Can't Olmert say the Right of Return is not on the table since Israel is a Jewish, not Islamic state?

Submitted by Larry (United States), Jan 15, 2008 at 02:28

It should really be up to the people of Israel to decide if the right of return is at all negotiable. Most Israeli Jews would say it is not. Inexplicably it seems the Olmert government has an agenda that is inconsistent with most Israelis yet his government continues in office.

I'm becoming more concerned that the longer he persists as PM, the more likely he will do substantial damage to the interests of Israel, which will be difficult to reverse. Caroline Glick, who never minces words, has an interesting and disturbing new article in Jpost on how Olmert et al manage to stay in power "Our World: How Olmert defies gravity". If these guys in power are as bad and unpopular as they seem, then there is a urgent need for leadership to step up and topple this government.

Then of course the big question is whom to elect. I'd be interested in your take on the reason Olmert stays in power, who whould be better able to lead Israel, and how you feel this could come about.

As far as right of return goes, maybe I'm beyond idealistic, but I'd think that if the Israeli people and their leadership articulate their outright rejection of the right of return, it wouldn't matter too much what a lame duck US president says about what needs to be addressed in negotiations. When Jews start moving back to the couple dozen muslim majority countries, then tiny Israel can consider whether to allow immigration from muslim nations (and "territories"). Unfortunately, if ANY of the Democrat candidates is elected in the US, the new administration will likely look for Israeli concessions a few steps beyond whatever Bush manages.

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