Of all days, when Israel and the United States notched a victory at the United Nations Security Council and forced Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver a relatively "weak" speech, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert chose to stand by the embattled Palestinian leader and declare him to be "a partner" for peace.
Abbas "is a man of peace. He is opposed to terror. And therefore he is the only partner that we can deal with," Olmert said.
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"I want to make it clear that I didn't come to the US to criticize the US president [Donald Trump] or his political plan. It's not appropriate, there's no reason for me to do it in America… and I also didn't come to criticize Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu – I use every opportunity to do so in Israel, but I won't do it here in the United States."
But he insisted that ultimately, peace could only come from direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Trump's plan "is aimed at eventually making peace between Israel and the Palestinians. So we have to negotiate with the Palestinians. Who will we negotiate with?" Olmert asked.
"Who will be the partner on the Israeli side, we will know later this year," he said, alluding to the March 2 elections scheduled in Israel, though two elections last year failed to produce a government.
He added that he thinks the majority of Israelis are not on the right politically and do not oppose negotiations with the Palestinians or seek of territory in Judea and Samaria.
On the Right, Olmert's joint press conference with Abbas in New York was swiftly met with harsh condemnation.
Netanyahu called Olmert's meeting with Abbas "a low point in Israeli history, shameful and disgraceful."
The prime minister continued: "After I worked for three years with Trump to produce the 'deal of the century,' a former prime minister goes to [Abbas] in order to fight against it. It's unbelievable," Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 20 on Tuesday night.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accused Abbas of being unrealistic and said peace was not possible while he remained in power. He said if Abbas really wants peace, he should be in Jerusalem talking to Netanyahu – not at the United Nations.
"Only when he steps down can Israel and the Palestinians move forward," Danon said of Abbas. "A leader who chooses rejectionism, incitement and glorification of terror can never be a real partner for peace."
Danon also lambasted Olmert, saying he "chose to give a tailwind to the Palestinians' diplomatic terrorism. This is harmful to Israel."
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin wrote: "It's scary to think that Ehud Olmert was prime minister. He lost all self-respect and reasonable judgment a long time ago. And yes, he supports "Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. It's scary to think that we'll wake up the day after the election with the next edition of Olmert: Benny Gantz. He gets advice from Olmert and kowtows to Abbas."
'Abbas left the door open'
Meanwhile, officials in the Palestinian delegation to the UN said they were frustrated over the blockage of the condemnation of Israel at the Security Council, which they said led to a relatively "weak" speech from Abbas.
An official in Abbas' entourage told Israel Hayom: "After we understood we don't have a majority for the draft resolution against Israel, the president decided to give a more moderate and appeasing speech, in which he didn't completely shut the door to the plan."
The official added that Ramallah no longer feels it has an automatic majority for resolutions against Israel at the Security Council.
'The Security Council changed its approach'
Following Abbas' speech and the shelving of the draft resolution denouncing the Trump peace plan, White House officials expressed satisfaction.
"For the first time since the eruption of the conflict, the UNSC is prepared to think outside the box and cease its automatic support for the Palestinians," a senior administration official said. "We're optimistic about the approach other countries are taking toward President Trump's vision for peace."
US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said the US aim is to get the Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table to discuss the Trump plan.
"It's a vision. It's not a deal," she said. "It's an opportunity and I think today was the beginning."
