Olmert's Resignation Will Disrupt Peace Talks
Joshua Mitnick, The Christian Science Monitor | August 1, 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert unexpectedly announced he will resign from his post in September. ++ The decision was a result of corruption accusations which made it increasingly difficult for him to fulfil his duties and prompted calls for his resignation. ++ The US State Department declares his departure will not affect American efforts to schedule some kind of peace agreement with PA by the end of the year, but the resignation is still likely to disrupt peace talks with both the Palestinians and the Syrians for at least two months.
Mon, Sep 8th 2008, 18:10
Lior Petek, University of St. Gallen, Platinum Contributor (216)
Well, firstly, the start of peace talks to deflect from corruption accusations seems to be a commom pattern in Israeli politics. So the title should rather read "The Prosecutors' Resignation Will Disrupt Peace Talks".
Secondly, there is a difference between peace talks as an end in itself and peace talks as a means to an end. Mitnick seems to be wrongfully concerned with the former. Yet since there is either a Palestinian partner that cannot deliver (Fatah) or one that does not want to deliver (Hamas), the disruption of peace talks (as an end in itself rather than as a means to an end) is nothing to be worried about.