Reply #2: Yes...but it was hardly a surprise, was it?

[Wordie]

I remember posting a prediction that this was the game plan months ago. I believe I was soundly trounced for being a "conspiracy theorist" at the time. Yet here we are, aren't we?

I hope and pray that the administration recognizes the danger of this plan.

Olmert will attempt to garner domestic and international support for shaping Israel's permanent border with the Palestinians. He wants to make sure Israel holds on to Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim, the Jerusalem envelope and Gush Etzion; establish the Jordan Valley as a security border and provide the Israel Defense Forces with freedom of action in the West Bank, similar to the post-disengagement situation in the Gaza Strip.

Olmert also promises to build up the E-1 area linking Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim. The plan was frozen last year due to American opposition, but according to Olmert, Israelis agree there should be contiguity, while the Palestinians and Americans recognize there will be.

"It is completely clear that the contiguity between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim will be built up," said Olmert. "This is clear both to the Palestinians and to the U.S. In my opinion, on this matter there is a full consensus in Israel."

The article says that Yossi Beilin, Meretz-Yachad chairman, said that although supports continued Israeli sovereignty over Ma'aleh Adumim (as Olmert stated he does also in the interview), he strongly is opposed to building up E-1.

"Whoever proposes building up E-1 is essentially preventing a permanent Israeli-Palestinian agreement," Beilin told Israel Radio. "Whoever builds up E-1 is preventing a contiguous Palestinian state."

Olmert's reasons for putting forth this plan?

...a "window of opportunity" for reaching an international agreement on setting the border, in the wake of Hamas' rise to power and domestic support following the Gaza pullout.