Is Olmert Now His Own Sounding Board? Duck!

When Sharon was Prime Minister, it was common to say that he was using Olmert as a sounding board, who would make public statements about issues--such as the Disengagement--and Sharon could see what the public reaction was. As we saw, once Sharon made a decision, there was no turning back.

But now, it appears that Olmert is his own sounding board, which is to say he hasn't got one--and like a bat without sonar, the results are dangerous.

Michael Freund points out in Olmert Zigs and Zags on Hamas:

With breathtaking speed, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has once again backtracked on his own policy towards Hamas, leaving heads spinning in Ramallah, Jerusalem and Washington.

Just days after Israeli officials began talking about imposing an “economic siege” on the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA), the Government has now apparently decided to permit international funding to reach the PA.

This flip-flop follows shortly on the heels of Olmert’s previous zig-zag regarding aid to Hamas. Shortly after the terrorist group won last month’s Palestinian elections, Israel said it would not transfer any more money to the PA, but then Olmert changed his mind last week and approved the handover of 240 million shekels in taxes and customs duties.

That post was on Thursday. Today, Arutz Sheva reports on another flip-flop:

Defense Ministry officials had hoped that the Karni and Erez Crossings - which have suffered many terrorist attacks in the past, and which have been the point of entry for many terrorists - would be closed as early as this morning. PA officials, too, had been originally informed that the crossings would be closed, but later found out the opposite. Some 3-5,000 workers entered today.

It also reports on a Cabinet meeting on Friday

The following measures were approved:

1. Israel will stop the monthly transfer of tax monies to the PA as soon as the new Hamas government, to be headed by Muhammed Haniye, is sworn in. This is expected to take place in the coming weeks, but it is not clear whether this will be before or after the next scheduled money transfer.

2. Israel will ask the international community to stop all donations to the PA, as of the swearing-in of the new PA government. However, funding to organizations defined as "humanitarian" will continue.

3. Israel will prevent the transfer of aid and means to official and unofficial PA military organizations.

4. Entry of Hamas members to areas controlled by Israel will be restricted.

5. The security checks of workers and goods entering Israel from Gaza at the Karni and Erez Crossings will be stepped up.

However, the article notes that the measures approved by the Kadima-only member Cabinet represent only a watered-down version of the recommendations offered by defense experts.

o The Cabinet did not approve the recommendation of a ban on entry of workers from Gaza.

o There was no mention of a proposed stoppage on Gaza projects to build a seaport and airport.

But acting Prime Minister Olmert did offer the following to Israelis:

Olmert, addressing the Cabinet today, said, "At this point, there is no possibility of reaching an agreement with the PA - but the sky has not crashed in. We were in the same situation during the days of terrorism with Arafat... Israel will not compromise with terrorism, and will continue fighting it with full force... Israel will not have contacts with a regime in which Hamas is a member."

Same old talk. Israelis have no reason to be reassured, except to the extent that they know that Hamas, if they are paying attention, are not exactly quaking in their boots.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Hamas and Terrorism and Olmert.