Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today spoke out against the escalation of the ongoing war against Hamas and underlined the need to limit collateral damage in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is expected to launch its ground attack any day. The invasion has become a source of concern for many, including the United Nations, prompting a series of conversations among world leaders.
“I think a diplomatic compromise is being sought,” Olmert told NDTV in an exclusive interview. “We must try to minimize collateral damage. This isn’t a contest of who kills more. We are not interested in killing civilians,” he added.
But he also underlined the position Israel has taken since the October 8 Hamas attack, saying: “We want peace, but there will be no peace if Hamas is there. We know that innocent people have been killed, but Hamas they don’t go”.
“We must make a concerted effort to try to remove Hamas from its position. This is an essential step to achieve peace, but there will never be peace if Hamas is there,” he said.
Mr. Olmert also indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the attacks.
“Netanyahu is responsible for building the capacity of Hamas… Netanyahu is personally and directly responsible for the deal with Hamas… and 80 percent of the people want him out,” said the leader, who started his political career with the ruling Likud party, but switched to Kadima, was formed in 2006 by moderates led by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Kadima favors a withdrawal plan: removing Israeli settlements from Palestinian territory while defining Israel’s borders with a future Palestinian state.
