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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert emerged from more than three hours of talks with US President George W. Bush on Tuesday, confident that the developments in Gaza provided a "new opportunity."But, in a press briefing after the summit, Olmert was very vague in details about how Israel would now deal with "the terrorist organization in control of a slice of territory five minutes from Ashkelon." Both Olmert and Bush publicly said that they would move quickly to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and moderates in the PA.Regarding how Israel would now deal with the Gaza Strip,Olmert said Israel would respond to developments as they happened, and he was not interested in spelling out how Israel would act in every situation.Olmert did say, however, that Israel would have no dealings at all with Hamas, and would make no distinction between moderate and extremist Hamas elements.
The prime minister said that the arms-smuggling situation along the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt was no worse now than in the past, and he still felt that IDF military action there would not be "a preferred option."He said he had spoken recently with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak about the situation on the border, and hoped that the Egyptians would take "more aggressive action" to stop the weapons smuggling.Olmert said that the cabinet would discuss the release of frozen PA tax revenues held by Israel in its next meeting on Sunday.He said that despite recent developments, he did not feel the road map peace plan was dead, and he was not aware of any dramatic speech that Bush was planning on giving next week, laying out a new Middle East policy.He did not comment on reports that the US would increase aid to Israel. He said only that the issue came up in his talks with Bush, there would be a 10-year plan, and "Israel will be satisfied."Turning to Syria, Olmert said unequivocally that the US had never told him not to negotiate with Damascus."The US never said not to hold talks with Syria," he said. "and we've never asked for their permission. Israel will not ask permission to conduct peace talks if it feels it's right, nor defend itself if it feels it's necessary."For his part, Bush said that Israel could decide for itself whether it wants to negotiate with Syria, that all options are still on the table regarding Iran, and that despite setbacks in Gaza, his vision of a two-state solution is still viable and should be pushed forward.
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