By Stan Goodenough
Jan 01, 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday he believes he can almost see "the hand of God" in the coming together of purportedly Israel-friendly countries which are working to create a Palestinian state on the historical homeland of the Jewish people.
In an exclusive interview timed to coincide with the start of 2008, Olmert told The Jerusalem Post he believed the current constellation of key international personalities who were "favorably disposed" to Israel created "comfortable conditions" for negotiations that may not exist again in the future.
The prime minister, a secular Jew, said it is "a coincidence that is almost 'the hand of God' that Bush is president of the United States, that Nicolas Sarkozy is the president of France, that Angela Merkel is the chancellor of Germany, that Gordon Brown is the prime minister of England and that the special envoy to the Middle East is Tony Blair."
"What possible combination could be more comfortable for the State of Israel?"
Olmert maintained that it was imperative that Israel make every effort towards progress in the land-for-peace process as long as this lineup of friendly faces remains in place.
It is an historical irony that Israel-friendly world leaders have been more successful in their push for the division of Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel)than have outspokenly antagonistic prime ministers and presidents.
Observers have noted that Israel's tendency towards dependancy on other countries - especially the United States - and the readiness of its leaders to be pressured as they pursue foreign favor has made the Jewish state exceptionally vulnerable to manipulation.
There is a saying in Israel, that after centuries of antisemitism and decades of non-stop war and terrorism, the nation is desperate enough to "sell its soul to the devil" for peace.
Original Source