Today’s editorial in the Boston Globe (“ Olmert Unbound ,” 10/13/08) lauds outgoing Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert for his opinions about what Israel should do to attain peace. In recent interviews with Israeli newspapers, Olmert argued that Israel should withdraw from nearly all of the West Bank, and that Jerusalem should be divided in some form or another. The Globe , after stating that “Olmert’s remarks are worth heeding,” describes his trajectory as one “traced by other prominent figures, such as former prime minister Ariel Sharon and ... Tzipi Livni.” While encouraging, this pattern of “abandoning unrealizable fantasies ... may not be sufficient to produce the political will needed for a historic compromise with the Palestinians,” the editorial writer adds. The piece ends with the following thesis: “Olmert was speaking about realities Israelis need to confront. What Israelis need most of all, however, is a leader who can act on those truths.” It’s a odd prescription. Has the editorial board forgotten that an Israeli leader did in fact attempt to act on what the Globe considers to be “truths?” Has it forgotten that Yasser Arafat could have had nearly 100 percent of the land Jordan lost in 1967, sovereignty over much of East Jerusalem, and financial support from Europe, America, and international financial institutions , but in a final blunder turned to armed struggle instead of accepting Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton’s pea ...
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