What Is Olmert's Real Position On The Temple Mount--And To Whom Did He Say It

So--did he or didn't he?

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statements on Wednesday that Israel's sovereignty over the Temple Mount is not up for negotiation are "false," according to a chief Palestinian negotiator, who told WND the Israeli leader already agreed to forfeit Judaism's holiest site to a coalition of Arab countries.

... "We had intense debates on many topics, which remain open and unsettled, but the Harem Al-Sharif (Temple Mount) is not a sticking point. The Israelis didn't argue with us. We were pleasantly surprised Olmert didn't debate about giving the lower section of the Mount either, which was a sticking point in the past."

According to the chief Palestinian negotiator, Olmert agreed to evacuate the Mount but not to turn it over to the Palestinians alone. The negotiator said both sides agreed the Temple Mount would be given to joint Egypt, Jordan and Palestinian Authority control.

Of course, there is no reason to believe the Palestinian negotiation team automatically, but it is odd for them to come out and say: "I think he's not yet ready to tell the Israeli public and is waiting for the right time and he fears his coalition with religious extremists will fall apart if he announces it now."--If Olmert really was ready to make the concession, purposely leaking this and showing Olmert's hand would be a good way to kill the deal.

One Jerusalem conducted a poll, which found--among other things:

o 75% of Israelies say that Jerusalem should not be the the capitol of the Palestinians.
o 65% do not think Jerusalem can be a safe city, if shared with the Palestinians.
o 73% believe there should be a referendum before any concessions are made in regard to Jerusalem.

On the other hand, if Olmert really did make that promise and is not revealing the whole truth--who would be surprised.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

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