2 1/2 Days to go

On tuesday 28^th Israel will elect a new Knesset. Nearly everyone gets a very boring impression on this. Nearly nothing can be felt about it. Kadima's victory seems clear and Ehud Olmert, an establishment man, old fox and known corruptionist will turn his status of acting PM to real PM. Tzipi Livni who's support transformed Olmert from an interim replacement man in Likud spinoff Kadima into the new strong man has already been declared N^o 2 and new acting PM by E.O. This is a rather unsypathetic move to weaken potential Vice-PM Amir Peretz before coalition negotiations begin. Let's see.

Against my hopes both Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post predict a participation of Shas and United Torah Judaism in the new government. I have trouble to understand how Olmerts statement that future coalition partners must back unilateral withdrawals could go well with those 2 parties or what the price would be. Let's see.

On the other side of the fence 'Let's discuss the end of the conflict'

Akiva Eldar of Haaretz met PA¹ president Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) for a long and interesting interview. Go read. Abbas estimates that with good will it would take 4 years to reach agreement and a peace treaty. It will be a difficult thing and nothing can be taken for granted. Let's hope that the old fox stays well for a will and will have a good successor up his sleeve and solve that Ben Gurion and many other did not solve. Here are 2 teasers to motivate you to read the whole interview:

"You are going into very important elections," Abu Mazen says. "We are in a historic period, in which we must decide whether we will move toward peace and a better future for our children. I can promise that you have a partner for this peace. On the day after the elections you will find us ready to sit in negotiations with no prior conditions. The leadership of both peoples and also of the international community has a supreme responsibility to exploit this opportunity. It may be the last hope to accord the two peoples their right to live in security and stability. The coming generations will not forgive us if we let it slip by.

"The negotiations with Israel will be conducted by the PLO's negotiations unit, on the basis of international legitimacy and the Arab [Saudi] initiative. I am unreservedly committed to the road map, to which you [Israel] appended 14 reservations. If we reach an agreement, I will be the one to sign it. If needed, I will put it to a referendum. I received 62 percent in the elections, in which I condemned violence outspokenly. I am certain that I will also succeed in getting a majority for a peace agreement."

And now: more related things that are going on

Baruch Marzel publicly urges IDF to assassinate Uri Avnery

National Jewish Front leader Baruch Marzel, now campaigning for the March 28 Knesset election, said yesterday that the leaders of Kadima are "traitors" and "criminals" and called on the Israel Defense Forces to assassinate the far-left leader of the Gush Shalom movement Uri Avnery.

Imams and rabbis form summit on issues surrounding Temple Mount

SEVILLE, Spain - The first attempt of its kind to prevent crises over the Temple Mount took center stage yesterday at the Second World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, which ends today. A panel discussion on holy sites discussed a proposal to establish a permanent committee comprising an equal number of Jewish and Muslim clerics to discuss issues affecting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Israeli public's view on leaders