Lessons from Peace Negotiations: Interview with Ehud Olmert

What is it about?

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered the Palestinians the most comprehensive peace deal that had ever received. Abu Mazen said he will reply “soon” and never did. I have met Olmert twice for lengthy interviews in which we opened all pertinent issues, putting delicate matters on the table for a candid conversation. This article records Olmert’s thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and his own involvement and attempts to end the bitter conflict. We discussed the Oslo Accords, Camp David 2000, terrorism, the Annapolis conference and Olmert’s extensive negotiations with Abu Mazen. The interview assesses the positive and negative lessons and implications of the peace process.

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Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash

Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Prime Minister Olmert offered the most generous offer to the Palestinians. Abu Mazen did not decline, but also did not accept. Olmert tells the story. The Olmert interview was opened with a discussion about Oslo 1993 and the subsequent waves of terror that swept Israel and undermined the peace process. Olmert believes that Yasser Arafat was behind the scenes of terror: “He knew, he sanctioned, he did not prevent it and, in some cases, he definitely assisted. That I know”. We then discussed Camp David 2000, to which Olmert was invited but did not go, the Al Aqsa Intifada which Olmert is convinced was orchestrated and financed by Arafat, the Annapolis peace conference, and Olmert direct negotiations with Abu Mazen. From December 2006 until 2008, the two leaders met 36 times and discussed all the pertinent issues. Olmert gave Abu Mazen the most generous peace offer to date. Abu Mazen did not reject it, but neither did he accept it. The offer was left in the air and did not translate to a concrete and abiding deal. Despite his extraordinary investment, Olmert was unable to sign a peace deal with Abu Mazen. This paper explains Olmert’s drives, his mode of negotiations, the issues he was willing to compromise and those which he was unable to compromise, and his interpretation of Abu Mazen’s lukewarm response.

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