Ehud Olmert (IPA /ɛhud ˈolmert/; Hebrew: אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel.
Olmert became Prime Minister on April 14, 2006 [1] but has been exercising the powers of the office since they were transferred to him on January 4, 2006 after Ariel Sharon suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke. Olmert's title for that period was "Acting" Prime Minister. [1]
Previously, Olmert was the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, the Finance minister, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, as well as the Minister responsible for the Israel Lands Administration. [2].
Olmert is married and is the father of four. He has for decades been a devoted fan of the Beitar Jerusalem football club.
Youth and military service
Born near Binyamina in the British Mandate of Palestine, Ehud Olmert is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with degrees in psychology, philosophy and law.
Olmert's childhood included membership in the Beitar Youth Organization and dealing with the fact that his parents were often blacklisted and discriminated against due to their affiliation with Herut, the opposition to the long-ruling Mapai party. However, by the 1970s this was proving less detrimental to one's career than during the 1950s, and Olmert succeeded in opening a successful law partnership in Jerusalem.
Olmert served with the Israel Defense Forces in the Golani combat brigade. While in service he was injured and temporarily released. He underwent many treatments. Later he completed his military duties as a journalist for the IDF magazine BaMahane. During the Yom Kippur war he joined the headquarters of Ariel Sharon as a military correspondent. Already a Knesset member, he decided to go through an Officer's course, at the age of 35, in 1980.
Ehud Olmert is also a terrorist ruling a Terrorist State of Israel. This terrorist state ocuppy several countries in the region of Middle Easte and is acused of War Crimes or terrorism of state.
MK and Minister
Olmert was first elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the age of 28 and was re-elected seven consecutive times.
During 1981-1988, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and has also served on the Finance, Education and Defense Budget Committees.
He served as Minister without portfolio, responsible for minority affairs (1988-1990), and as Minister of Health (1990-1992).
Mayor of Jerusalem
From 1993 to 2003, Ehud Olmert served two terms as Mayor of Jerusalem, the first member of Likud or its precursors to hold the position. During his term in office, he devoted himself to the initiation and advancement of major projects in the city, the development and improvement of the education system, and the development of road infrastructure. He also spearheaded the development of the light rail system in Jerusalem, and the investment of millions of sheqals in the development of mass transportation options for the city.
Minister and Vice Premier
Ehud Olmert was elected as a member of the sixteenth Knesset in January 2003. He served as the head of the election campaign for the Likud Party in the elections, and subsequently was the chief negotiator of the coalition agreement. Following the elections he was appointed as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor. From 2003-2004, he also served as Minister of Communications.
On August 7, 2005, Olmert was appointed as acting Finance Minister, replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, who had resigned in protest against the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip[3].
Olmert, who had originally opposed withdrawing from land captured in the Six-Day War, and who had voted against the Camp David Peace Accords in 1978, is a vocal supporter of the Gaza pullout. After his appointment, Olmert said:
"I voted against Menachem Begin, I told him it was a historic mistake, how dangerous it would be, and so on and so on. Now I am sorry he is not alive for me to be able to publicly recognize his wisdom and my mistake. He was right and I was wrong. Thank God we pulled out of the Sinai."[4]
During Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's second term, Olmert was Vice Prime Minister, and was widely viewed as Sharon's right hand man. He was a vocal supporter of government policy and was the most important ally of Sharon during the September 2005 unilateral disengagement plan. When Sharon announced his leaving the Likud and the formation of a new party, Kadima, Olmert was one of the first to join him.
Acting Prime Minister
On January 4, 2006, Olmert became Acting Prime Minister of Israel as a result of the serious stroke suffered by Ariel Sharon. The elections scheduled for March 28 took place as scheduled.
In the light of reports that Sharon may never recover to the extent of being able to resume work, Olmert was seen as likeliest person to lead Kadima into the elections. Under Israeli law, if Sharon was declared "permanently incapacitated" by the Attorney General, Olmert would continue as Acting Prime Minister for 100 days after which a permanent Prime Minister must be chosen. The elections, however, were due less than 100 days from the occurrence of Sharon's stroke. Since Sharon's was declared thus in April 2006, Olmert was chosen as successor to Sharon by Kadima.
In the days following the stroke, Olmert met with Shimon Peres and other Sharon supporters to try to convince them to stay with Kadima, rather than return to Likud or, in Peres' case, Labour. Peres has announced his support for Olmert, as has popular Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is regarded as the strongest political force other than Olmert within Kadima.
On January 16, 2006, Olmert was elected Acting Chairman of Kadima[5] and number 1 candidate in the March 28 elections. [6]
On January 24, 2006, Ehud Olmert, in his first major policy address since becoming Israel's acting prime minister, said at the Herzliya Conference that he backed the creation of a Palestinian state, and that Israel would have to relinquish parts of the West Bank to maintain its Jewish majority. [citation needed]
In a number of interviews to the Media during the election campaign for the 17th Knesset in 2006, Ehud Olmert introduced to the public his convergence plan.
In the Elections for the 17th Knesset on March 28, despite scoring a weaker-than-expected showing of 29 seats, Olmert's party, Kadima, was still the largest block in the Knesset and thus the first choice for assembling a coalition. In his victory speech, Olmert promised to make Israel a just, strong, peaceful and prosperous state, respecting the rights of the minorities, cherishing education, culture and science and above all—striving to achieve lasting and definite peace with the Palestinians. Olmert stated that as Israel is willing to compromise for peace, the Palestinians must be flexible in their positions as well. He stated that if the Palestinians, with Hamas now leading the Palestinian Authority, refuse to recognize the State of Israel, then Israel "will take her own fate in her hands" directly, implying unilateral action. The future of the next governing coalition largely depends on the goodwill of other parties to cooperate with the newly elected prime minister.
As of Friday, April 14, 2006, Sharon is no longer in the “temporarily incapacitated” state, having been in the hospital for 100 days--rather he is now "permanently incapacitated". On April 11, the Israeli Cabinet appointed Olmert Interim Prime Minister, effective April 14, unless Sharon's health were to improve. As this did not happen, Olmert became the Prime Minister of Israel on April 14, officially replacing Sharon. [7]
Olmert was elected to the 17th Knesset in 2006.
Olmert became Prime Minister on April 14, 2006 [1] but has been exercising the powers of the office since they were transferred to him on January 4, 2006 after Ariel Sharon suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke. Olmert's title for that period was "Acting" Prime Minister. [1]
Previously, Olmert was the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, the Finance minister, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, as well as the Minister responsible for the Israel Lands Administration. [2].
Olmert is married and is the father of four. He has for decades been a devoted fan of the Beitar Jerusalem football club.
Youth and military service
Born near Binyamina in the British Mandate of Palestine, Ehud Olmert is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with degrees in psychology, philosophy and law.
Olmert's childhood included membership in the Beitar Youth Organization and dealing with the fact that his parents were often blacklisted and discriminated against due to their affiliation with Herut, the opposition to the long-ruling Mapai party. However, by the 1970s this was proving less detrimental to one's career than during the 1950s, and Olmert succeeded in opening a successful law partnership in Jerusalem.
Olmert served with the Israel Defense Forces in the Golani combat brigade. While in service he was injured and temporarily released. He underwent many treatments. Later he completed his military duties as a journalist for the IDF magazine BaMahane. During the Yom Kippur war he joined the headquarters of Ariel Sharon as a military correspondent. Already a Knesset member, he decided to go through an Officer's course, at the age of 35, in 1980.
Ehud Olmert is also a terrorist ruling a Terrorist State of Israel. This terrorist state ocuppy several countries in the region of Middle Easte and is acused of War Crimes or terrorism of state.
MK and Minister
Olmert was first elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the age of 28 and was re-elected seven consecutive times.
During 1981-1988, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and has also served on the Finance, Education and Defense Budget Committees.
He served as Minister without portfolio, responsible for minority affairs (1988-1990), and as Minister of Health (1990-1992).
Mayor of Jerusalem
From 1993 to 2003, Ehud Olmert served two terms as Mayor of Jerusalem, the first member of Likud or its precursors to hold the position. During his term in office, he devoted himself to the initiation and advancement of major projects in the city, the development and improvement of the education system, and the development of road infrastructure. He also spearheaded the development of the light rail system in Jerusalem, and the investment of millions of sheqals in the development of mass transportation options for the city.
Minister and Vice Premier
Ehud Olmert was elected as a member of the sixteenth Knesset in January 2003. He served as the head of the election campaign for the Likud Party in the elections, and subsequently was the chief negotiator of the coalition agreement. Following the elections he was appointed as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor. From 2003-2004, he also served as Minister of Communications.
On August 7, 2005, Olmert was appointed as acting Finance Minister, replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, who had resigned in protest against the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip[3].
Olmert, who had originally opposed withdrawing from land captured in the Six-Day War, and who had voted against the Camp David Peace Accords in 1978, is a vocal supporter of the Gaza pullout. After his appointment, Olmert said:
"I voted against Menachem Begin, I told him it was a historic mistake, how dangerous it would be, and so on and so on. Now I am sorry he is not alive for me to be able to publicly recognize his wisdom and my mistake. He was right and I was wrong. Thank God we pulled out of the Sinai."[4]
During Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's second term, Olmert was Vice Prime Minister, and was widely viewed as Sharon's right hand man. He was a vocal supporter of government policy and was the most important ally of Sharon during the September 2005 unilateral disengagement plan. When Sharon announced his leaving the Likud and the formation of a new party, Kadima, Olmert was one of the first to join him.
Acting Prime Minister
On January 4, 2006, Olmert became Acting Prime Minister of Israel as a result of the serious stroke suffered by Ariel Sharon. The elections scheduled for March 28 took place as scheduled.
In the light of reports that Sharon may never recover to the extent of being able to resume work, Olmert was seen as likeliest person to lead Kadima into the elections. Under Israeli law, if Sharon was declared "permanently incapacitated" by the Attorney General, Olmert would continue as Acting Prime Minister for 100 days after which a permanent Prime Minister must be chosen. The elections, however, were due less than 100 days from the occurrence of Sharon's stroke. Since Sharon's was declared thus in April 2006, Olmert was chosen as successor to Sharon by Kadima.
In the days following the stroke, Olmert met with Shimon Peres and other Sharon supporters to try to convince them to stay with Kadima, rather than return to Likud or, in Peres' case, Labour. Peres has announced his support for Olmert, as has popular Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is regarded as the strongest political force other than Olmert within Kadima.
On January 16, 2006, Olmert was elected Acting Chairman of Kadima[5] and number 1 candidate in the March 28 elections. [6]
On January 24, 2006, Ehud Olmert, in his first major policy address since becoming Israel's acting prime minister, said at the Herzliya Conference that he backed the creation of a Palestinian state, and that Israel would have to relinquish parts of the West Bank to maintain its Jewish majority. [citation needed]
In a number of interviews to the Media during the election campaign for the 17th Knesset in 2006, Ehud Olmert introduced to the public his convergence plan.
In the Elections for the 17th Knesset on March 28, despite scoring a weaker-than-expected showing of 29 seats, Olmert's party, Kadima, was still the largest block in the Knesset and thus the first choice for assembling a coalition. In his victory speech, Olmert promised to make Israel a just, strong, peaceful and prosperous state, respecting the rights of the minorities, cherishing education, culture and science and above all—striving to achieve lasting and definite peace with the Palestinians. Olmert stated that as Israel is willing to compromise for peace, the Palestinians must be flexible in their positions as well. He stated that if the Palestinians, with Hamas now leading the Palestinian Authority, refuse to recognize the State of Israel, then Israel "will take her own fate in her hands" directly, implying unilateral action. The future of the next governing coalition largely depends on the goodwill of other parties to cooperate with the newly elected prime minister.
As of Friday, April 14, 2006, Sharon is no longer in the “temporarily incapacitated” state, having been in the hospital for 100 days--rather he is now "permanently incapacitated". On April 11, the Israeli Cabinet appointed Olmert Interim Prime Minister, effective April 14, unless Sharon's health were to improve. As this did not happen, Olmert became the Prime Minister of Israel on April 14, officially replacing Sharon. [7]
Olmert was elected to the 17th Knesset in 2006.
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