Ehud Olmert, Israel’s Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009, is back in the news. He provides withering criticism of the Israeli government’s scheme to create a “humanitarian city” in Rafah. He accurately described the proposal as a blueprint for a Palestinian concentration camp. He said that if this plan goes ahead, it would result in ethnic cleansing. Olmert’s remarks come amid increasing tensions and violence in the region, particularly after the recent attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In an interview, Olmert expressed his concerns that the Israeli government is committing war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. He stated that the claims made by the government regarding the “humanitarian city” as a protective measure for Palestinians are not credible. While he’s critical of past presidents, including Republicans, his stinging rebuke is reserved for the Trump White House. He cautions that the messianic, nationalist, and fundamentalist elements in the cabinet, not even outside enemies, are the biggest danger to Israel’s long-term security.
“It is a concentration camp. I am sorry,” – Ehud Olmert
Olmert’s critique does not stop there. He condemned the Israeli government for coordinating repeated lethal raids on Palestinians, calling them unforgivable and intolerable actions. And he stressed the pressing need for more powerful international action. Still, he said, Israel does not have a robust political opposition to challenge or reverse these trends.
Olmert has become a critic of the rising fundamentalist trends within the Israeli settler community. He does the very thing he’s calling them out on—war crimes. Besides the fact that such actions are harmful to Israel’s stature in the world, Friedman stressed that they only make a bad situation more inflammatory. He emphasized the role of Israeli media in perpetuating their failure to cover, or even acknowledge, the violence against Palestinians. He argued that this slanted journalism plays a major role in framing the public discourse.
“That is why I cannot refrain from accusing this government of being responsible for war crimes committed,” – Ehud Olmert
Though the situation looks dire, Olmert has not given up faith in seeing a two-state solution come to fruition. He is now working with the Nasser al-Kidwa to build international support for this effort. According to Olmert, an historic settlement can be within our grasp. Such a deal would not only stop the current war in Gaza, but likely be the key to normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Olmert’s insights reflect a broader concern regarding Israel’s image abroad. He lamented rising anti-Israel sentiments in places like the United States, attributing them partly to how Israeli actions are portrayed in media and social networks.
“In the United States there is more and more and more expanding expressions of hatred to Israel,” – Ehud Olmert
Critically assessing the attitude of Israelis towards Palestinians, he stated, “What can I do to change the attitude, except for number one, recognizing these evils, and number two, to criticize them and to make sure the international public opinion knows there are [other] voices, many voices in Israel?”
His comments come at a time when people are increasingly challenging Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid rule over Palestinian land and people. He deeply disagrees with the current Israeli administration, arguing that it is ethnic cleansing to force Palestinians into the projected “humanitarian city.” He has put a lot of rhetorical weight behind this claim on the campaign trail.
“If they [Palestinians] will be deported into the new ‘humanitarian city’, then you can say that this is part of an ethnic cleansing. It hasn’t yet happened,” – Ehud Olmert
Whatever you think of Olmert’s passionate rhetoric, he brings attention to a deep divide in Israeli society about how it treats the Palestinians. As he approaches 80 years of age, his enthusiasm for these causes continues to shine through. He expressed deep concern over the prevailing narratives and attitudes towards Palestinians, calling for a reevaluation of how such matters are perceived within Israel.
“These guys are the enemy from within,” – Ehud Olmert