Ehud Olmert, PM of Israel from 2006 - 2009, had an interview with German weekly newspaper "DIE ZEIT", which is centre-left liberal aligned. They talked about the recent developments in the Gaza war.
During his term Olmert negotiated a two state solution with Mahmoud Abbas, which Abbas refused in 2008.
Olmert was asked if the war will escalate further; he told it is hard to tell. Netanyahu is being pushed by his extremist coalition partners to occupy all of Gaza, but there are also indications that the generall staff of the IDF is against more escalation.
Olmert also criticises that Netanyahu is doing nothing against the violence done by jewish settlers in the west bank. He stated that even if this would mean a catastrophe of historical proportions for Israel he cannot rule out that Netanyahu is going to deliver the annexion fantasies of the right wing nuts in Israel.
Going deeper into Gaza strip would mean for sure even more dead people, civilians, solders and hostages. While at the beginning the international support was in favor for Israel this has changed, because the war is rightfully not viewed as legitimate military operation any longer.
Asked why he considers the war to be wrong Olmert stated it is because Israel has reached all goals which can be reached by military means. If the IDF will still fight on to satisfy religious extremists, then Israel would loose its morale and values. It would just become another fundemantalist, extremist, right-wing totalarism and messianic country just like Iran.
Asked why he's comparing Israel with Iran Olmert replied where's the difference between the ayatollahs, which are destabilizing with terror and other means the whole region justifying it with obeying their religion and the Ben-Gvirs and Smotrichs who are telling, that due to godly foresight they are going to take over all of the country and get rid of the Palestines? Israel is at the moment becoming a totally different state under its current government.
Asked about the consequences Olmert sees this as bad thing, because it could mean that the international support for Israel might just cease to exist which always was fundamental for being able to survive in this hostile location.
Asked about the two-state solution Olmert is of the opinion that it should be done, but not be used at the moment as tool for pressuring Israel like the UK is doing. He is for an own state of Palestine, but not as punishment but solution for the people in Palestine as well Israel.
When asked if it is too early to recognize Palestine as state he replied todays' choice is to recognize a state, which does not exist or getting both sides on the table to negotiate about creating a new state. Olmert views new negotiations as more useful than recognizing a state which in reality does not exist. He's also in favor for putting pressure on both sides to get them back to the table.
Talking about the role of Donald Trump in the crisis Olmert states he's got no idea which part Trump has in it. Nobody in the world seems to be able to understand Trump or to predict what he's going to do next. So he's hoping that Trump is going to do the right thing, which would be telling Netanyahu very harshly: stop the war!
Talking about war crimes against Palestines Olmert agrees the IDF has done them, but disagrees with calling it a genocide, because 2.2 million Palestines are still alive and if Israel would want to kill them they could just send a fleet of fighter jets with enough bombs to do so.
As conclusion he views Israel as divided, exhausted and potentially isolated, but Israel could still turn around in becoming a pariah state. 70% of its citizens are for stopping the war now and distrust Netanyahu. He hopes their share will increase, so that they can get rid of Netanyahu very soon.
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