I just heard a conference call with Yuval Steinitz, sponsored by American Friends of Likud, and it as left me feeling very optimistic. No more holding our breath. According to Steinitz, we will most likely be seeing the Olmert government resigning within two weeks to some months, most certainly by the time the final and full Winograd report is released in three to four months.
Remember, what was released on Monday was only an interim report, and dealt only with the early stages of the war. The final report will be "much more serious," and most likely will have even stronger, sharper criticism of the government's bald mismanagement of the war. Steinitz thought resignations, if they haven't already happened by then, would include not only Olmert but also possibly Livni, Peretz and Peres.
It was pretty damning when he was saying that they didn't understand this and they didn't understand that, they didn't understand they were at war.
I gather Israeli politics are so volatile that few predictions should be made, but Steinitz seemed pretty certain that Netanyahu would be the next prime minister. He was talking, after all, to American Friends of Likud, but still . . . I want to believe it.
The best part was when he said that the Kadima party was an "accident," and would not last.
I just hope he's right, on all counts, and that the new elections can be held before the new war begins.
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