In his first sit-down interview in years, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is revealing and controversial speaking with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

by Lucky Gold

Something in my trust is lacking

Ehud Olmert, Israel’s former Prime Minister, has spoken out on the widening rift between Israel’s security community and the two men who would make the ultimate decision to attack Iran’s nuclear program – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

In an exclusive interview on Amanpour, Olmert admitted he was “worried” that a preemptive attack on Iran could be a “terrible, terrible mistake for the security and the well-being of Israel.”

Speaking of Netanyahu and Barak, he said, “You have to have full trust in the judgment of those who have to take decisions.  And you could understand from what I said that maybe something in my trust is lacking.”  Asked if he doesn’t have full trust (in the Netanyahu government), Olmert said: “Apparently.”

“We have to create a capacity to defend ourselves,” said Olmert, but Israel should not “rush for certain military actions which are not essential at this point.”

Calculating the steps

When asked if he concurred with the head of the Israel Defense Forces, General Benny Gantz, that Iran’s leadership is rational, Olmert said:  “I know one thing, that the Iranian leadership has not gone beyond a certain line for the time being of developing the nuclear program.”

He added, “And that shows that they are at least thoughtful, which means that they are not rushing, but they are calculating the steps, being aware of the possible ramifications of what they do.”

Olmert was asked to compare the situation in Iran with that in Syria five years ago, when he was Israel’s Prime Minister.  At that time, Syria was developing a nuclear reactor and Israel reportedly launched a clandestine attack to destroy it.

Olmert said, “I think the attempt to draw a comparison between Iran and Syria is false, misleading and dangerous.”
Without ever acknowledging that he ordered an attack, he said:  “The reactor in Syria was about to be operated within days, and therefore there was no time to wait.  You could either do it or you have an atomic reactor that would produce a bomb.”

“In Iran,” he said, “The situation is different.  There is time.  The international is community fully aware.  Everyone knows.  The President of the United States is fully committed to work against it.  And therefore this is a big difference.”

Military action in Iran, he said, should be “the last resort.”  He further stated, “I prefer it would be an American action supported by the international community if all the other efforts would fail.”  He added, “Israel shouldn’t lead it.  America should lead it.”

No Friendship, No Cooperation

In a pointed reference to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s contentious meeting with President Obama in Washington last May, Olmert said it was essential that Israel cooperate with America “from a respectful and serious and careful attitude and not trying to teach the president of America or preach to the president of America or blame the president of America, but rather cooperate with him.”

When asked if Prime Minister Netanyahu appears willing to seek such cooperation with President Obama, Olmert said “My impression is that there is no friendship and that there is no cooperation.”

In contrast, Olmert said he believes President Obama is a friend of Israel – “I have no doubt about it.”

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