OLMERT COLORS OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS. The Jerusalem Post reported in April 2006 on Olmert's Convergence Plan:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he intends to finalize plans for a large pullout from parts of the West Bank within the next 18 months.

Looks like Olmert is just about on schedule:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is offering to hold negotiations toward an "Agreement of Principles" for the establishment of a Palestinian state on most of the territory of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Olmert's proposal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is based on his view that it is important to first discuss issues that are relatively easy for the two sides to agree upon. No less important is Olmert's assessment that such an accord will enjoy the overwhelming support of the Israeli public and the Knesset.

It's not clear what Olmert's assessment is based on. Apparently, it is not based on finding out what Israelis actually think and want:

Telephone poll of a representative sample of 493 adult Israeli Jews carried
out by Teleseker for Maariv the week of 26 July, 2007.

Are you for or against the unilateral evacuation of communities in Judea and Samaria?
For 18% Against 74%

When a leader with so little public support goes out of his way to push such provocative irreversible policies, one has to wonder what his goal really is.

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