Khaberni - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert believes it is too early to predict the outcomes of the negotiations that began in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss the implementation of the plan to end the war in Gaza, but he is certain that Benjamin Netanyahu cannot defy what American President Donald Trump wants.
Earlier today, Egyptian media reported that indirect sessions began between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations to discuss preparing field conditions and establishing a mechanism for prisoner exchange according to Trump's plan.
Olmert, in an interview with Al Jazeera, expressed his hope that Trump could force Netanyahu—wanted by the International Criminal Court—to stop the war, which he affirmed had lasted longer than it should.
Netanyahu is highly influenced by his government partners' positions, but at the same time, he is not ready to defy what Trump wants, who Olmert said had previously forced him to end the war with Iran and ordered him to return Israeli planes that were en route to Tehran.
Trump has publicly demanded a stop to the attacks on Gaza City in order to facilitate these negotiations, a statement that the former Israeli Prime Minister sees as important and reflects his determination to end the war.
Olmert does not trust Netanyahu, who he says prolonged the war to protect his own political interests without regard for the state’s higher interests, but he said he is confident in Trump’s ability to stop the war.
Olmert does not know whether Netanyahu has agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations or not, but they started because Trump wanted them, which means, in his view, that ending the war depends on what the American President wants, not the Israeli Prime Minister.
Olmert stated that he was not opposed to the war at its inception, believing it was necessary and inevitable after the attack launched by Hamas, but he emphasized that it should not have continued for more than two or three months because this poses a risk to the lives of both Israeli and Palestinian prisoners and soldiers.
Israel must investigate the failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 attack, and how Netanyahu’s government managed the war and its priorities, according to Olmert, who said he hopes there will be a new government capable of addressing these issues.
The former Israeli Prime Minister concluded his interview with Al Jazeera by affirming that Netanyahu's politics have created an unprecedented division within Israel, which now needs to recover and restore the unity that was once a permanent feature.
