Olmert Fudges on Removing Convergence from Agenda

Funny, but in his speech before the Knesset yesterday, Olmert avoided mentioning convergence/realignment altogether.

Not that it is "temporarily off the agenda" or any other such phrase.

Here's what I found:-

Ladies and gentlemen, Members of Knesset,

Considerable changes have recently taken place in the political arena. A Hamas government is currently ruling the Palestinian Authority. Unfortunately, this government does not fulfill the minimal preconditions outlined by the international community, which would enable it to become a possible partner for negotiations. As long as the Hamas government fails to recognize the State of Israel, accept and implement the agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and act to terminate violence and eradicate terrorism, including attacks on our southern communities, we cannot conduct dialogue with it. We, together with the international community, will not compromise on these conditions.

...The State of Israel has demonstrated many times its willingness to live in peace and good neighborly relations with the Palestinian people. We do not wish the Palestinian people to continue suffering. On the contrary. We prefer a thriving Palestinian society, free of humanitarian hardship - a society which enjoys economic welfare and which operates in cooperation with the State of Israel.

I believe with all my heart that this reality is possible. The Palestinian people must make a profound internal decision: should they seize the chance of becoming a healthy and strong society and overcome the grim reality in which they live. The responsibility for their situation is theirs alone, and the responsibility for their decision is theirs alone.

We have already made our decision. We have no desire and no intention to rule over the Palestinians forever. If the day comes when the Palestinian government accepts the preconditions which will make it a legitimate player, it will allow the opening of a comprehensive political horizon, which will change the reality in the region. However, even under the conditions existing today I pledge to act tirelessly to seize every opportunity, every opening, every possibility of negotiations which will generate real dialogue with responsible representatives of the Palestinian people.

Ehud, these words of yours aren't that encouraging.