Olmert at Jewish Agency event
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Protestors interrupt Olmert speech
Demonstrators storm stage area carrying 'Nation with Golan' signs as PM speaks at Jewish Agency ceremony. Olmert booed as he arrives at event, tells audience: 'The most beautiful place I visited recently is the Golan Heights'
Several protestors interrupted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's
speech at a Jewish Agency ceremony near Jerusalem Thursday evening after storming the stage area.
The prime minister, who was booed when he arrived at the ceremony, told the protestors: "The most beautiful place I visited recently is the Golan Heights. Let's put politics aside." He later added that "we have no other country aside from the Jewish State."
The demonstrators, who were carrying "The Nation is with the Golan" signs, were reportedly encouraged by the crowd on hand. Olmert was forced to stop his address, as the protestors reached within a few meters of him.
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Protestors carry sign (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
On Wednesday, the committee of Golan Heights communities called an emergency sessions following the announcement that Israel intends to make concessions in future negotiations with Syria.
Golan Regional Council Chairman Eli Malka said at the start of the meeting that Golan residents "are counting on a significant majority amongst the public and in the Knesset to act sanely and wisely and not allow the prime minister, who is acting based on foreign considerations, to send Israel into a tailspin.
"This move is bad for Israel, bad for the Americans, bad for the Arab world and bad for a future peace."
Hagai Einav contributed to the story
