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Peace Process

Olmert probe hampers Rice effort to push process


By Stan Goodenough
May 05, 2008

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left Israel for Washington Monday, her hope of achieving some form of progress in the US-pushed land-for-peace process reportedly dampened by a new criminal investigation into the conduct of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The investigation, which came to light Friday, and details of which remain under a court-imposed gag order, has the country buzzing with speculation as to whether or not Olmert will be forced to step down.

Anonymous officials have let on that the issue is a serious one whose outcome will be decided in a matter of days.

Olmert tried to shrug off the rumors, insisting that he is able to fully function in his capacity as prime minister.

His political enemies are not waiting, however, with the official opposition Likud Party already canvassing Knesset members to hold early elections should Olmert fall.

According to reports in the Israeli press Monday, Rice, who flew in on Saturday night for a two-day visit, arrived to find her ability to move things forward between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs severely hampered by the new development.

The American had hoped to secure something tangible before US President George W. Bush arrives next week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel's rebirth.

But citing senior government officials in the capital, The Jerusalem Post said there was "unlikely to be any progress in Israeli-Palestinian talks until the political uncertainty created by the latest investigation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is cleared up."

Echoing - some say leading - Bush, Rice has voiced her determination to do everything possible to secure some sort of peace agreement before the end of the year, and was clearly not going to waste her visit in spite of what must be for her an extremely annoying development.

She spent all day Sunday in meetings; in Ramallah with PLO chief terrorist and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his "prime minister,” Salaam Fayyad, and in Jerusalem with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Livni, who is in line to assume the position of prime minister should Olmert be forced to step aside, herself appeared to be distracted by the brewing scandal according to some observers.

She would not discuss it, however, telling reporters during a joint conference with Rice that the two were meeting "within the framework of the discussions that I am holding [with the Palestinians], which is what I am dealing with and will continue to deal with in the coming days."

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