Olmert: War opened eyes of free world

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with a delegation of the American Jewish Committee in Jerusalem Monday to discuss the war in Lebanon and its consequences. The war, Olmert explained to those present, caused the free world to wake up and comprehend the Iranian threat.

Lebanon, Syria and Iran, who have been preparing to wage war against Israel for years, to be launched whenever the time was convenient for Iran, did not foresee that Israel would attack upon the kidnap of two soldiers, Olmert said.

He added that he hoped the United States and the nations of the world would take the necessary steps to stop Iranian nuclear armament, which threatens “the world’s stability.”

During the meeting, Olmert explained that Israel decided to go to war as part of a strategic decision to change the equation in effect up until then, by which Israel absorbed and ignored violent provocations.

“Owing to this war, the situation in Lebanon has changed forever,” the prime minister said. “For the first time in 35 years, the Lebanese army is deployed along the border and Hizbullah is in hiding.”

Deterring Syria

Earlier Monday Olmert addressed the ramifications of the war during his first appearance in front of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee since the ceasefire with Lebanon was declared.

“What we did in south Lebanon constitutes a deterrent element for the Syrians as well, because they understand that in Lebanon we limited our use of force,” Olmert said. Regarding the Syrians, Olmert added that Israel would remove all the restraints it applied in Lebanon if it should come down to battling Syria.