Olmert plays his "get out of jail free" card

In a last ditch attempt to save his skin from prosecution, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert played his trump card only minutes ago.

The Prime Minister's Office announced Wednesday that Israel and Syria have launched direct negotiations in Turkey.

Ynet has learned that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's associates, Yoram Turbowitz and Shalom Turgeman, have been meeting with senior Syrian officials in Ankara since Monday.

A dramatic statement issued simultaneously in Jerusalem, Damascus and Ankara said that "Israel and Syria have launched peace talks mediated by Turkey. (YNET)

This morning's radio talk shows, newspapers and TV news were all about Olmert's impending demise as Prime Minister. Elections talk was in the air, Tzippy Livni was ironing her suit, and it seemed absolute that Olmert would resign in shame, after the High Court of Justice rejected Tuesday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's appeal against the State Prosecutor's request for a pre-trial deposition by Morris Talansky, the key witness in the corruption probe against the PM. (YNET)

Despite the spam mail circulating on the internet, in which Olmert requests your assistance to help retain his fortune, his latest tactic of using a "peace" deal with Syria is bound to make the peace-hungry Israeli establishment quickly forget about any wrongdoings Olmert may have committed.

5 hours ago, political eulogies were written for Olmert.

Now he's eying Noble Peace Prizes.


Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Hiding Behind Ammunition in Gaza

In today's latest exchange between IDF soldiers and Gaza Palestinians, IDF soldiers were attacked from Palestinian positions in Beit Hanoun (Northern Gaza Strip). One IDF soldier was wounded.

"The IDF reported that it had attacked a group of gunmen spotted near forces operating in Beit Hanoun. Soldier belonging to the Givati patrol brigade exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen in the area. During the military activity, an IDF soldier was lightly injured in the leg and rushed to hospital." (YNET)

Palestinians claim that 4 children and their mother, were killed Monday morning in an IDF strike in the northern Gaza Strip -- a shell hit a house in the town of Beit Hanoun. (JPost)

However, IDF radio reports as follows (something not yet appearing in any English language report).

"Unofficial IDF sources report that Palestinian woman and children were not killed by an IDF tank shell.

IDF Givati brigade soldiers engaged 2 Palestinian terrorists in a gun-battle -- the terrorists shooting from within the house of the woman and children. Each terrorist was wearing an over-sized knapsack, apparently loaded with ammunition. When hit by IDF gunfire, the terrorists' ammunition exploded, causing the deaths of the woman and children inside the house. Source: Galei Tzahal IDF radio, in Hebrew)"

For the first time in recent months, the IDF is not apologizing in knee-jerk reaction fashion for the deaths of civilian casualties in a war zone, making the IDF radio report even more believable.

As a result, even more Qassam rockets have been raining down on Sederot and Ashkelon. The following news story was from Friday, but I didn't get a chance to post the pics till now)

Four Palestinian Qassam rockets were fired at Ashkelon on Friday morning, one of then landing in the city's southern cemetery.

The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, as well as for a shooting attack which left two Israeli guards dead in an industrial zone in the Sharon region.

Eli Yifrach, the cemetery's manager, told Ynet that "luckily the rocket landed before the employees arrived for work. It fell inside the cemetery and many graves were damaged.

"One of the graves was completely destroyed, and we are now working cautiously with the police so as not to desecrate the dead. This is a very sad sight." YNET Pics Link

Money Quote from PM Ehud Olmert at yesterdays's Mimouna Celebrations:

"Without being arrogant, God forbid, I think that today we can say that the Israeli people have a government that can defend it; that it has leadership that knows how to care for its people's security and future." (JPost)

Olmert? Arrogant? G-d forbid.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Settlers: The Image of a Pulitzer Prize.

Every day in Budapest has been a world full of blogworthiness, complete with imagery and experience that has burned itself into my being.

Yet, with all the pictures and thoughts I wish to blog, it's impossible not to post the Pulitzer Prize Winning Photo for 2007.

Awarded to Oded Balilty of The Associated Press for his powerful photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.

I blogged about Amona as it was happening here and here...and while I have so much to write about Amona and this picture, the post from Rafi G. sums up how Amona happened to being with.

PM Ehud Olmert said, "I am indestructible. I have been here for 35 years and I have survived everything."

More to come this evening.

--Jameel

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael