24 replies to this topic

[Saira]

Excellent insight into the way of thinking of the greatest Pakistani leader ever and how far off base we have veered.



The most important man in Asia is sixty-seven, tall, thin, and elegant, with a monocle on a grey silk cord, and a stiff white collar, which he wears in the hottest weather. He suggests a gentleman of Spain, a diplomat of the old school; one used to see his like sitting in the window of the St. James's Club, sipping Contrexe-ville while he read Le Temps, which was propped against a Queen Amxe toast rack stacked with toast Melba.

I have called Mr. Jinnah the most important man in Asia. That was to ensure that you kept him spotlight in your mind. Like all superlatives the description is open to argument, but it is not really so far from the truth. India is likely to be the world's greatest problem for some years to come, and Mr. Jinnah is in a position of unique strategic importance. He can sway the battle this way or that as he chooses. His 100 million Muslims will march to the left, to the right, to the front, to the rear at his bidding, and at nobody else's, that is the point. It is not the same in the Hindu ranks. If Gandhi goes, there is always Nehru, or Rajagopalacharriya or Patel or a dozen others. But if Jinnah goes, who is there?

By this I do not mean that the Muslim League would disintegrate—it is far too homogeneous and virile a body—but that its actions would be incalculable. It might run completely off the rails, and charge through India with fire and slaughter; it might start another war. As long as Jinnah is there, nothing like this will happen.

And so, you see. a great deal hangs on the grey silk cord of that monocle.
I first met him on December 18th, 1943. He said he could give me half an hour, and gave me nearly three. In that space of time he surveyed a very wide field; the gist of his remarks, however, the living essence, is in the following dialogue, which he has been good enough to edit.

Here we are then, sitting in a quiet room looking out on to a garden, discussing one of the most important problems in the world, with the man most competent to solve it.

ii)SELF... The most common accusation of your critics is that you have not defined Pakistan with sufficient precision—that there are many details of defence, economics, minorities, etc., which you have left deliberately vague. Do you think that is a just criticism?

Jinnah... It is neither just nor intelligent, particularly if it is made by an Englishman with any knowledge of his own history. When Ireland was separated from Britain, the document embodying the terms of separation was approximately ten lines. Ten, hues of print to settle a dispute of incredible complexity which has poisoned British politics for centuries! All the details were left to the Future—and the Future is often, an, admirable arbitrator. Well, I've already given the world a good deal more than ten lines to indicate the principles and practice of Pakistan, but it is beyond the power of any man to provide, in advance, a blue-print in which every detail is settled. Besides, Indian history proves that such a blue-print is totally unnecessary. Where was the blue-print, when the question of Burma's separation was decided at the Round Table Conference? Where was the blue-print when Sind was separated from Bombay? The answer, of course, is * nowhere. It didn't exist. It didn't need to exist. The vital point was that the principle of separation was accepted; the rest followed automatically.

Self... How would you describe the 'vital principles’ * of Pakistan?

Jinnah…. In five words. The Muslims are a Nation. If you grant that, and if you are an honest man, you must grant the principle of Pakistan. You would have to grant it even if the obstacles were a hundred times more formidable than they actually are. Of course, if you do not grant it, then,.. . He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.. .Then, there is an, end of the matter.

Self..... When you say the Muslims are a Nation, are you thinking in terms of religion?
Jinnah.... Partly, but by no means exclusively. You must remember that Islam is not merely a religious doctrine but a realistic and practical Code of Conduct. I am thinking in terms of life, of everything important in life. I am thinking in terms of our history, our heroes, our art, our architecture, our music, our laws, our jurisprudence...

Self..... Please, I would like to write these things down.

Jinnah (after a pause). In all these things our outlook is not only fundamentally different but often radically antagonistic to the Hindus. We are different beings. There is nothing in life which links us together. Our names, our clothes, our foods—they are all different; our economic life, our educational ideas, our treatment of women, our attitude to animals.. we challenge each other at every point of the compass. Take one example, the eternal question of the cow. We eat the cow, the Hindus worship it. A lot of Englishmen imagine that this cow-worship is merely a picturesque convention, an historical survival. It is nothing of the sort. Only a few days ago, in this very city, the cow question became a matter for the police. The Hindus were thrown into the greatest agitation because cows were being killed in public. But the cow question is only one of a thousand. (A pause) What have you written down?


Self... I have only written 'The Muslims are a Nation’.
Jinnah.... And do you believe it?

Self...... I do.

Jinnah ... What other questions have you got there?

Self.... The first is economic.  Are the Muslims likely to be richer or poorer under Pakistan?  And would you set up tariffs against the rest of India?

Jinnah...... I'll ask you a question for a change.   Supposing you were asked which you would prefer...a rich England under Germany or a poor England free, what would your answer be?

Self ....It's hardly necessary to say.

Jinnah.... Quite. Well, doesn't that make your question look a little shoddy? This great ideal rises far above mere questions of personal comfort or temporary convenience. The Muslims are a tough people, lean and hardy. If Pakistan means that they will have to be a little tougher, they will not complain. But why should it mean that? What conceivable reason is there to suppose that the gift of nationality is going to be an economic liability? A sovereign nation of a hundred million people—even if they are not immediately self-supporting and even if they are industrially backward is hardly likely to be in a worse economic position than if its members are scattered and disorganized, under the dominance of two hundred and fifty million Hindus whose one  idea is to exploit them. How any European can get up and say that Pakistan is 'economically impossible' after the Treaty of Versailles is really beyond my comprehension.   The great brains, who cut Europe into a ridiculous patchwork of conflicting and artificial boundaries, are hardly the people to talk economics to us, particularly as our problem happens to be far simpler.

Self ....And does that also apply to defence?

Jinnah.... Of course it applies to defence.   Once again I will ask you a question. How is Afghanistan defended? Well? The answer is not very complicated.  By the Afghans.  Just that.  We are a brave and united people who are prepared to work and, if necessary, fight. So how does the question of defence present any peculiar* difficulties?   In what way do we differ from other nations? From Iran, for example? Obviously, there will have to be a transition period. We are not asking the British to quit India overnight. The British have helped to make this gigantic muddle, and they must stay and help to clear it up.  But before they can do that, they will *have to do a lot of hard thinking.   And that reminds me—I have something I would like to show you.

He excused himself and left the room. I lit a cigarette and waited. And suddenly I realized that something very remarkable was happening, or rather was not happening. I was not Iosing my temper. Jinnah had been almost brutally critical of British policy (though I have not quoted his remarks in the above dialogue), but his criticism had been clear and creative. It was not merely a medley of wild words, a hotchpotch of hatred and hallucination, in the Hindu manner. It was more like a diagnosis. The difference between, Jinnah and the typical Hindu politician was the difference between a surgeon and a witch doctor. Moreover, he was a surgeon you could trust, even though his verdict was harsh.

"The British must realize”, he had said to me before we tackled the problem of Pakistan, “that they are not a friend in the country. Not a friend”. A Hindu politician would have said that at the top of his voice, with delight. Jinnah said it quietly, with regret. Here he was again. In his hand he carried a book.
Jinnah... You will remember I said, a moment ago, that the British would have to do a lot of hard thinking. It's a habit they don't find very congenial; they prefer to be comfortable, to wait and see, trusting that everything will come right in the end. However, when they do take the trouble to think, they think as clearly and creatively as any people in the world. And one of their best thinkers—at least on the Indian problem—was old John Bright. Have you ever read any of his speeches?

Self: Not since I left school.

Jinnah ....Well, take a look at this. I found it by chance the other day.

He handed me the book. It was a faded old volume, The Speeches of John Bright, and the date of the page at which it was opened was June 4th, 1858. This is what the greatest orator in the House of Commons said on that occasion:



From a book, "Verdict on India" by Beverly Nichols, written in 1944.
CHAPTER III.

[Jazba-e-Kashmir]

Jinnah, May Allah Bless his soul .....
... i am speechless and at the same time feeling proud for him being the Founding Father of Pakistan... Defender of the Muslims....

Pakistan Zindabad, Pakistan Paindabad


Thank you Saira, if you have any more of such articles or interviews then please do post them :-)

would be appreciated

Peace

[Chief of army staff]

Baji Saira! Can we go back to old format instead of this one. This new format is pretty much annoying.

[Sanguine]

Excellent excerpt. Totally loved reading it.

[Saira]

JEK & Fatima - am glad you liked it. COA - contact Psy or Webbie for the layout.


Anyways, here is another article that though not dealing with Jinnah directly shows how far off base we have come from the Pakistan he envisioned. I think the author of the following article makes some generalizations that are not entirely accurate but the point she is trying to illustrate is completely valid and thought provoking.


A disappointed Pakistani Christian


Dear Pakistani Muslims,
Pakistan has been hell for my family and I.
Yes, we get Christmasand have a few churches here and there and attend the same schools as the rest of you, but life as Christian minorities has been torture for us.
I had to carpool  in a public van to a convent school that had the richest and most influential of Pakistani Muslims in attendance. I shared class rooms with the most spoilt and unforgiving spawn of business tycoons, politicians, smugglers and architects who called me a “karanti”.
A karanti is a derogatory, slang term for dark Christians, because of course being born as a “darkie” in Pakistan automatically makes you ugly and unimportant with horrible marriage prospects – if any at all. They also degraded my father because he could not afford to drive me to school in a tinted, bullet proof Land Cruiser.
My father’s ‘shameful’ salary as an accounts teacher was not substantial enough for us to mingle with the creme de la creme of Defense; a dingy apartment in Nazimabad and a sputtering motor bike was all we could afford.
Many of the Muslim kids refused to share food with me, nor would they take a bite or sip from anything I may have consumed. I have had girls tell me point blank that their parents have instructed them never to sit and eat with people of other faiths because it’s haraam(forbidden). I will tell you what’s haraam; teaching your children to hate instead of love…that’s what’s haraam.
I will never forget an incident in school during a physical education class when, as I was passing the volley ball to a Muslim girl, her eyes suddenly shot daggers at me and she screeched:

Why do you wear that cross with an idol on it?

“This is my prophet…Jesus”, I said in a hoarse whisper because mother had always told me never to argue with people about religion.

“Just like you wear that Allah around your neck, I wear the cross.”

“Idol worshipping is haraam, and the Prophet hated idol worshippers. You are a kafir (disbeliever)”

The word kafir has resonated within me forever. I was marked, stamped and stained for life as if a member of the kachra class in India.
Gradually, my cousins, aunts and uncles began migrating. My father was offered a sponsorship visa but he refused, saying his duty was to serve and protect Pakistan no matter how many Christians were killed, executed for false blasphemy cases, paraded naked in village streets and discriminated against in every way.
My mother and I begged him to reconsider.
We asked him to think about the worsening situation of fanaticism in the country and what it could mean for us one day, however he was resilient in his patriotic thinking, putting his service into educating Pakistani children before anything else -even his own family.
I have always felt emotionally and mentally restricted in this country, unable to voice an opinion on anything remotely related to politics or religion, while many of my cousins and relatives continue to live freely in the West.
What I find strange is that I have done my Islamic research because I wanted to know the reason behind the rising hatred toward anyone remotely non-Muslim, and contrary to popular belief Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was generous and kind to members of various faiths. It is after reading much of his work that I have concluded that it is not Islam that is the problem at all, it is the wretched people who claim to be Muslims but have hatred, racism and religious stigma engrained in their core.
No matter how many Taseers are born, there will always be a Mumtaz Qadri in almost every strata of Pakistani society ready to kill, and many will defend this action even at the highest political levels.
So, my dear Pakistan, tell me – where shall I go?
Is it fair that we are practicing our religion in a phobic way? Is it fair that I no longer wear my cross because someone may take offence to it?
Jinnah wanted to create a state that would encourage freedom of religion. Today, not only have you all failed Jinnah but you have taken a religion of peace and manipulated it to terrorise us. We cannot be silenced for long.
As Abraham Lincoln said:

If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify a revolution.

Yours sincerely,
A disappointed Pakistani Christian

http://blogs.tribune...tani-christian/

[Jazba-e-Kashmir]

the author is correct. It is a very unfortuneate situation.

And the author has shared his/her experiences while going to school with RICH and INFLUENTIAL Pakistani Muslims.
Again, it is rich and influential people who are basically enlighted and modern, but if such high positioned individuals or idiots in the Pakistani society are social interacting with Christians in a disrespectful manner, then they are no different than the average ignorant uneducated Pakistanis, who does the same.


There are Christians living in the neighborhood where i'm related in Pakistan. I've never said anything worng them, I treat and respect them with outmost respect and vice versa. The people in the neighboord treat them the same and have never ever suppressed them or anything like that.
I have social interacting with them, and they have honestly said they encounter poblems like every average Pakistani in the society.
But when it comes to their religious background, then they undergo tension due to their religious background. And they know it is not the fault of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) but ignorant Muslims who have the best religion but do not value and live by their religion.
I gave them credit for able to distinguish between ignorants and the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) who came to enlighten us for 1433 years ago...


Referring back to the author, thumbs up and credit should be given to the author. Because he/she studied Islam and got into the depth of OUR respected religion, despite the fact he/she could use the frustration and negativity against Muslims and Islam due to the bad actions.
This is called a challenge in social life and she/he has earned my personal respect for respecting our Islam due to idiots who were supposed to be enlighted and came from a enlightened background behaved like ignorants who never saw the light of guidance.



Peace

[GreenBeret]

I think Jinnah never was a muslim or never had any religion. He had an ego seeing indians as slaves of British. He wanted to set the record straight and found islam as a good clause to win the case of Pakistan. Anything that has a wrong base doesnt stand stable and so is the case of Pakistan.

[PS:Annonymous]

GreenBeret, on 04 May 2012 - 11:54 PM, said:

I think Jinnah never was a muslim or never had any religion. He had an ego seeing indians as slaves of British. He wanted to set the record straight and found islam as a good clause to win the case of Pakistan. Anything that has a wrong base doesnt stand stable and so is the case of Pakistan.

Blame it on Jinnah. Lanet hai, khud tumharee kartoot theak nahi and you never fail to find an escape goat for your short comings. Did this opinion came from your baba ji teaching ka Pir saheb ki Sohbat ka aser hai?

You are nation of people, who lie, cheat, steal, greed, and kill. The worse of all, you try hard to be hindu. Your women love Indian culture, indian movies.

What you have said above is a new low of your already low level. Your nation vote for thieves and robbers.

[GreenBeret]

PS:Annonymous, on 05 May 2012 - 02:52 AM, said:

Blame it on Jinnah. Lanet hai, khud tumharee kartoot theak nahi and you never fail to find an escape goat for your short comings. Did this opinion came from your baba ji teaching ka Pir saheb ki Sohbat ka aser hai?

You are nation of people, who lie, cheat, steal, greed, and kill.

its my own opinion and thinking. Rest, asusual, you can assume whatever you want.

you are right about the nation, as the pillars are not what they were supposed to be.

[Caesar]

GreenBeret, on 04 May 2012 - 11:54 PM, said:

I think Jinnah never was a muslim or never had any religion. He had an ego seeing indians as slaves of British. He wanted to set the record straight and found islam as a good clause to win the case of Pakistan. Anything that has a wrong base doesnt stand stable and so is the case of Pakistan.

For example if what you are saying is true than it means Pakistan is not an Islamic country but is a secular country like Turkey. Therefore it becomes imperative that the name of the country be changed immediately, constitution changed to reflect the fact that Pakistan is secular. Also ban all the mullahs. What do u think?

[Krad]

Greenberet,

What is your opinion on what the solution should have been to the post-independence situation?

I am interested in different points of view and would like to hear your opinion.

[blueazure]

we had a christian senior baji back in EME, her father was a brigadier in pak army, no problems with her at all. many secretaries / PA staff in our karachi office are Christians, many female teachers in LSE , LUMS etc christians, no issues with them ,  .

its the way you look at things, i personally dont bother about anyone's background and education as such, for me , honesty and an ethos for  hard-work matter more .  



PS >
( tribune generally posts the negative opinion of a small minority )

[PS:Annonymous]

GreenBeret, on 05 May 2012 - 03:00 AM, said:

its my own opinion and thinking. Rest, asusual, you can assume whatever you want.

you are right about the nation, as the pillars are not what they were supposed to be.

So is it Jinnah fault that you as people fail to strengthen and build the pillars? Jinnah did for you what no one could do for Palestinians and look at their condition. If it wasn't for Jinnah,  Hindu could have done latest version of Spanish inquisition on us and the west could have been sitting pretty watching us slaughtered like sheep and being dumped into mass graves.

After Pakistan was found for 10 years your couldnt even make the constitution. The Army takes over and then country goes to war and the another war, and then lost the east part, then you have one disaster after the other, the biggest disaster of your nation is to keep electing the thieves.

[Skull-Buster]

No Christian in Pakistan has been executed on blasphemy in the entire history of the country, so I dont know what the author is talking about.

It is true that minorities in Pakistan may face some discrimination here and there, but personally knowing many Pakistani Christians, the situation is not at all as what the authors makes it out to be.

[PS:Annonymous]

Skull-Buster, on 05 May 2012 - 05:38 AM, said:

No Christian in Pakistan has been executed on blasphemy in the entire history of the country, so I dont know what the author is talking about.

It is true that minorities in Pakistan may face some discrimination here and there, but personally knowing many Pakistani Christians, the situation is not at all as what the authors makes it out to be.

It is well kosher to bash Pakistan and blow the hot air into nothing to make an issue. I lived in US, Muslims are not even allowed to say  Azaan via loud speaker in Masjid while Christian are allowed to ring bells out loud and use loud speaker to make speeches in Pakistan. As a matter of fact, Muslims places of worship are wire taped, spied on. I lived in US 13 years and out of which most of the time under fear and discrimination. I was stalked and followed at my work by my red neck colleagues everyday. On US radio the genocide of Muslims has been advocated by Michael Savage, Neal Boortz and the likes of Rush bimbo without any one ever condemning it. But even a hot wind touches the Christians in Pakistan or any Islamic country. the western media goes basaltic.

When did you see any Muslims in Pakistan ever announce to burn a bible? The only people who ever burn the religious text and books were either Nazis or the American Christian evangelicals. The only religious  group of people in the world prays for War, genocide, death, chaos and murder in middle east is the American Christian Evangelicals and Christian Zionists.

[Felicius]

Skull-Buster, on 05 May 2012 - 05:38 AM, said:

No Christian in Pakistan has been executed on blasphemy in the entire history of the country, so I dont know what the author is talking about.

Are you absolutely sure that no christian has been sentenced to death or life imprisonment in the last 65 years (for blasphemy)? People have been lynched and killed before they went to trial as well, while police protected the killers, that is how jungli a country we live in.

You are going by the news that in the end, they were pardoned or released, but after a nerve wrecking ordeal that their families had to endure.

http://www.google.ca...PCsrpgAer44HdAQ

Jazba-e-Kashmir, on 01 May 2012 - 10:21 AM, said:

the author is correct. It is a very unfortuneate situation. And the author has shared his/her experiences while going to school with RICH and INFLUENTIAL Pakistani Muslims. Again, it is rich and influential people who are basically enlighted and modern,

It is very much the rich and the influential who don't give a damn what religion the other follows. Remember, the drinking and the womanizing are also attributed to the rich and the influential?

The sector against the blasphemy law are the rich and the influential, couldn't care less if they were wearing a OM on their neck, let alone the Star of David or a Cross.

[Skull-Buster]

Shehz, on 05 May 2012 - 09:50 AM, said:

Are you absolutely sure that no christian has been sentenced to death or life imprisonment in the last 65 years (for blasphemy)? People have been lynched and killed before they went to trial as well, while police protected the killers, that is how jungli a country we live in.

You are going by the news that in the end, they were pardoned or released, but after a nerve wrecking ordeal that their families had to endure.

http://www.google.ca...PCsrpgAer44HdAQ



It is very much the rich and the influential who don't give a damn what religion the other follows. Remember, the drinking and the womanizing are also attributed to the rich and the influential?

The sector against the blasphemy law are the rich and the influential, couldn't care less if they were wearing a OM on their neck, let alone the Star of David or a Cross.

The author mentioned executions for blasphemy cases, and I pointed out that no execution has taken place to date. There have been convictions but no executions. And as far as convictions are concerned, half of those convicted for blasphemy were Muslims.

[blueazure]

just behind where my grandma lives in Lahore, there is a large christian ghetto, on each sunday,they have their service and play their songs about jesus ( pbuh ) etc .. i used to spend my weekends there and was woken each sunday morning by the loud music, LOL ,,

[Felicius]

Skull-Buster, on 05 May 2012 - 10:03 AM, said:

The author mentioned executions for blasphemy cases

This is what she said:

Quote

My father was offered a sponsorship visa but he refused, saying his duty was to serve and protect Pakistan no matter how many Christians were killed, executed for false blasphemy cases, paraded naked in village streets and discriminated against in every way.

But I got your point as well, fair enough.

Edited by Shehz, 05 May 2012 - 01:26 PM.

[platinum786]

What a guy, excellent answers. I might get myself a copy of that book.

[Sanguine]

GreenBeret, on 04 May 2012 - 11:54 PM, said:

I think Jinnah never was a muslim or never had any religion. He had an ego seeing indians as slaves of British. He wanted to set the record straight and found islam as a good clause to win the case of Pakistan. Anything that has a wrong base doesnt stand stable and so is the case of Pakistan.

Sorry to say but you should not comment on his faith, that too when he is no longer in this world. I have never come across any book which gave me a clue that he was not a Muslim. And then I can name some really famous people who committed blatant shirk but even today they are held in high esteem by many of the Muslims so you should stop being judgemental when you do not have proof for that.

@ Topic

Two wrongs never make right. If Pakistanis or Muslims face discrimination in other part of world, that does not mean that we should be indifferent to the discrimination faced by other communities living in Pakistan. The "karanti" part that the author talks about is 100 percent correct. Christians with dark complexions are mocked by "Muslims" like us and thats nothing new but yes that is something we must be ashamed of. I myself know how a man in Gujranwala got interested in a Christian lady who was already married. That moron filed an FIR accusing her husband of committing blasphemy. The Christian husband knew  a Christian Brigadier and he got ISI involed and things were settled within no time but this should tell us about those poor Christians who do not have relatives holding high public offices. The same blasphemy made Muslims set shacks of Christians ablaze in Gojra with the result that there were Christians who were burnt alive. Its a sad state of affairs and the author is certainly right. Blaming everything on "western media" will do no good. Lets put our house in order first and then blame the media.

[PS:Annonymous]

[Krad]

It doesn't surprise me at all that thugs like this have usurped many many so called churches.

Good to see that a lot of people are not falling for the lies.

[PS:Annonymous]

Krad, on 06 May 2012 - 07:21 PM, said:

It doesn't surprise me at all that thugs like this have usurped many many so called churches.

Good to see that a lot of people are not falling for the lies.

http://edition.cnn.c...t-us/index.html

Olmert: Right-wing U.S. cash derailed Israeli peace plan


By the CNN Wire Staff
May 5, 2012 -- Updated 1238 GMT (2038 HKT)






Olmert: Right-wing dollars killed peace


STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ehud Olmert says extreme right-wing elements in the United States helped derail his peace plan
  
• They poured millions of dollars into efforts to topple him from office, he says
  
• Olmert, who quit as prime minister amid corruption allegations, does not name the right-wing figures
  
• His 2008 peace plan proposed a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders

(CNN) -- Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said millions of dollars from the "extreme right wing" in the United States helped oust him from government and derailed a peace plan with the Palestinians.
In an exclusive interview aired Friday with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Olmert said his attempts to make peace had been "a killer" for him as prime minister.
In 2008, Olmert sought a "full comprehensive peace between us and the Palestinians" -- a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. But the plan was never realized and Olmert was forced from office accused of corruption, which he denies.
"It was a killer for me, not only because of the opposition in Israel. I think that, by the way, in Israel, the majority of the Israelis would have supported my plan, had it come for elections," Olmert said.
<a name="em1">
Part 1: Is the Iran threat cooling?

Olmert: Right-wing dollars killed peace
"But I had to fight against superior powers, including millions and millions of dollars that were transferred from this country (the United States) by figures which were from the extreme right wing that were aimed to topple me as prime minister of Israel. There is no question about it."
Pressed to name names, Olmert replied: "Next time."
Asked if current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be willing to propose such a plan, given the same political risks, Olmert said it was the responsibility of a leader to put his country first.
"That's why you are prime minister," said Olmert. "That's why you take the responsibility of leadership. To do things which are right for the nation that you want to lead."
But Olmert acknowledged that such leadership comes at a price. "I paid personally, dearly. But there was no option for me but to do what I did. And I know for sure, and I know the names, of the people that spent millions of dollars in order to stop me -- from the United States."
He was then asked if there is still time for a two-state solution. "There is time," said Olmert, "but time is running out."
He admits that Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, never said yes to his 2008 proposal, but also insists that he never said no.
"So why not reintroduce this plan again, and present the challenge to the Palestinians?" asked Olmert.
He said he hoped his successor, Netanyahu, would adopt his peace proposal -- which included the division of Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital -- but that so far this had not happened.
"The fact is that we don't negotiate with the Palestinians. And the fact is that we have not proposed anything," he said.
Olmert suggested the current Israeli government was content to blame the Palestinians for a reluctance to negotiate, rather than striving for a peace deal which is of great importance to Israel.
"We want peace. We need peace. We want to separate from the Palestinians," he said.
"We don't want to control the lives of the Palestinians. We want them to have their own separate state and we have to do everything in our power in order to bring it about."
Olmert said it broke his heart to propose the division of Jerusalem, which he served as mayor from 1993 to 2003. But the difficult decision was necessary, he said. "For me to propose a division of Jerusalem was really terrible. I did it because I reached a conclusion that without which there will not be peace."
Asked if Netanyahu will seek such a peace, Olmert said, "I certainly pray that he will." Then he added, "I doubt that he will."
Olmert was indicted on a variety of corruption charges in 2008 in a probe that dogged his last months in office.
He held several Cabinet posts under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma since a stroke in 2006. Olmert succeeded Sharon after his stroke.
Olmert announced his resignation in September 2008, after the corruption investigation deepened, and left office after a new government took power in March 2009. Other corruption allegations have followed.
Olmert declined to discuss the charges with CNN. He has denied wrongdoing in all cases.

[PS:Annonymous]

Krad, on 06 May 2012 - 07:21 PM, said:

It doesn't surprise me at all that thugs like this have usurped many many so called churches.

Good to see that a lot of people are not falling for the lies.

My point is Krad that West suffers from chronicle hypocrisy. There are no other people in the world who pray for war, genocide and mayhem in middle east so they can go to heaven. the people who do that are highly admired, funded and have lots of influence in American government. The people send donation to israel to build settlements on occupied land. These people promote war and this is the root cause of fundamentalism in middle east. I remember this red neck colleague telling me that i must convert to Christianity in order for Jesus to come second time. I simply told, Jesus can come and go as he please but i aint converting to jack ####. Then he enforced his point by saying, Jesus wont come until every soul in the world has converted to Christianity. These people now have big influence in US policy making and even at Pentagon and Army.

It is not the muslims who are the source of unrest in the world. the source has been identified and presented in the above video.