Daniel Levy on Olmert's Future
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is in Washington this week in the midst of both a domestic political crisis and news of the renewal of Israeli-Syrian peace efforts -- that have received a lukewarm American blessing at best. Recent allegations of corruption involving bribes and illegal campaign donations almost certainly now mean that Olmert's days as Premier are numbered -- and Israel is likely to enter a period of political turmoil. Olmert's visit also comes at a time of emerging differences between Israeli and US policy most notably with Israel formally conducting proximity negotiations with Syria via Turkish mediation, and ongoing Egyptian mediated efforts at a ceasefire with between Israel and Hamas. In its waning days the Bush Administration seems to be increasingly sidelined in Middle East diplomacy -- even in regard to its closest ally, Israel. The Qatari-brokered deal on Lebanese power-sharing being yet another example of this trend from recent days.
Senior Fellow and Director of the New America Foundation/Century Foundation Middle East Initiative Daniel Levy emphasizes in a recent article that the new police investigations against Olmert are likely to stall peace negotiations and render obsolete President Bush's call for a peace deal by end '08. Read "Is Israel's Prime Minister Going Out on a High Note?" on TPM Café: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/27/is_israels_prime_minister_goin/. Also, highlighted below are Daniel's comments on Olmert's possible legacy:
"Fairly or not, Ehud Olmert is likely to be tagged as Israel's most dishonest Prime Minister-yet in many ways he has been more honest to his public about Israel's regional predicament and the steps it needs to take than almost any of his predecessors. In his latest outpouring of home truths, Olmert yesterday told one of his detractors that anyone who believes that it's possible to hold onto the greater land of Israel, the territories captured in '67, is "delusional". With the resumption of talks with Syria last week, despite a distinct lack of enthusiasm from the Bush administration, it seems that Olmert maybe going out on a high and is leaving an interesting diplomatic legacy."
Daniel Levy's Bio: Daniel Levy is a Senior Fellow and Director of New America Foundation/Century Foundation Middle East Initiative. During the Barak Government, he worked in the Prime Minister's Office as special adviser and head of the Jerusalem Affairs unit under Minister Haim Ramon. From March 2000 to March 2001, he worked as senior policy adviser to former Israeli Minister of Justice, Yossi Beilin, where he was responsible for coordinating policy on various issues including peace negotiations, civil and human rights, and the Palestinian minority in Israel. He was a member of the official Israeli delegation to the Taba negotiations with the Palestinians in January 2001, and previously served on the negotiating team to the "Oslo B" Agreement from May to September 1995, under Prime Minister Rabin. In 2003, he worked as an analyst for the International Crisis Group Middle East Program. Daniel publishes the Prospects for Peace Blog at www.prospectsforpeace.com.
For further information, or to arrange an interview with Daniel Levy, contact: Erin Drankoski, New America Foundation, (202.997.8727; drankoski@newamerica.net). Also, visit the following webpage: http://www.newamerica.net/people/daniel_levy.
About the New America Foundation
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has offices in California.
Related Programs: American Strategy Program, Middle East Policy Initiative
Topics: Foreign Policy
