Ehud Olmert

Trivia

• Olmert was elected for the first time at the Knesset in 1973.
• Olmert was reelected seven times in a row, always occupying important positions, like for instance the head of the Commission for Defense and Foreign Affairs.
• Between 1981 and 1988, he worked for the cabinet of Finances, education and budget.
• In 1988 he became Minister without Portfolio responsible for minority affairs, afterwards Minister of Health from 1990-1992.
• In November 1993 he was elected Mayor of Jerusalem, and kept this position for ten years.
• Olmert was the first Likud member to obtain such a position. During his two consecutive mandates, he invested substantial resources in education and in the development of infrastructures.
• In 2003, he was called to Ariel Sharon, when the latter was reelected at the head of government. He immediately became his Deputy Prime Minister as well as his confidant.
• Olmert proved to be a very influent member of the Cabinet.
• Olmert was one of the first ones to recommend the withdrawal of the Gaza strip. The project was finally approved by the Prime Minister and institutionalized under the term “Disengagement Plan”.
• M. Olmert was the first important Israeli official to demand Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from a major part of the occupied Palestinian Territories.

Quotes

• “The behavior of the settlers cannot be tolerated. Today they crossed every line.”
• “History has proven that when the people of Israel unite under a serious and responsible leadership, we know how to overcome all challenges and overcome all obstacles.”
• “It must be made very clear, we are not going to transfer funds which could finance terrorist attacks against our civilians.”
• “We clarified that without a clear abandonment of the path of terror, a recognition of Israel's right to exist in security and peace ... Israel won't have any contact with the Palestinians.”
• “We are not ready in any way to allow a situation in which money transferred by the government of Israel will somehow end up in the control of murderous elements who want to harm Israeli citizens.”
• “The State of Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if its members include an armed terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel; in any case, Israel will continue to fight terrorism with a heavy hand, everywhere.”
• “We cannot continue to control areas of the territories where most of the Palestinians live.”
• “The state of Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if even part of it is an armed terrorist organization calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
• “We must create a clear boundary as soon as possible, which will reflect the demographic reality on the ground. Israel will maintain control over the security zones, the Jewish settlement blocs, and those places which have supreme national importance to the Jewish people.”
• “We will not negotiate with a government that does not keep to its most basic commitment fighting terror.”