Israel is 'on its way become normal again', says former prime minister Ehud Olmert

Israel is heading into a crucial election as well, with violence flaring in the occupied West Bank and the country deeply divided over its future. A major Israeli military operation over the weekend has raised tensions even further, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu battles for political survival. After three years of war, is Israel ready for a change of leadership, and would that bring a change of direction? Joining me now is former Israeli Prime Minister and outspoken Netanyahu critic Ehud Olmert. Good morning, sir. Thanks for coming on the show. Good morning. So you have been one of Benjamin Netanyahu's fiercest critics. Is this election really about Israel's future or simply about getting rid of Netanyahu? No, it's about Israel's future and I'd say the nature and the soul of Israel. It's Israel democracy that respects basic fundamental human values, moderation, compassion, respect for others, or Israel is a messianic, extreme, fundamentalist, radical country that is dominated by a group of thugs like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and Netanyahu. So this is, of course, an inevitable battle about the future of Israel. But the future of Israel, the future of Netanyahu may become the disaster of the state of Israel. And that's why it is so widely... Netanyahu has survived political crises, corruption allegations, and three years of war. What makes you believe Israeli voters are finally ready to turn the page? Well, you know, I don't know much except for what I see in the polls that are run on a daily basis by all the different channels in Israel. In all the different polls, in all the different channels, for a long period of time, there was not one single poll which gave the bloc of Netanyahu more than 51 seats. In most cases, they got less than 50, which means that they are short of at least 10 to 11 seats in order to be able to form a coalition. So I think it's moving rapidly into the point where the bloc of change led by Benny Gantz, the former chief of staff of the Israeli army, was an entirely different person from Netanyahu, the opposite of Netanyahu. Netanyahu. Everything bad about Netanyahu is almost everything good about Eisenkow. He's not flamboyant, he's not outspoken, he's a very modest, humble, reserved, restrained, responsible person, and I think that people are ready for him. If I may follow up on this, you have publicly backed Gadi Eisenkot, who's a former military chief. Why should Israelis trust another former general to lead the country? And what would he do actually differently? Considering the history of the state of Israel and the fact that throughout our history, from the proclamation of the state of Israel going back to 1948, we always had to fight. in 48, in 56, in 67, in 73, in between the big wars, small battles, and, of course, the war in Lebanon once and twice, and in Gaza, and so on and so forth. So, of course, the centrality of the battle for life, which has characterized the history of the state of Israel, made the generals and former generals of the army, particularly generals which were associated with military victories, very dominant figures in the public discourse in the state of Israel. Gadi Eizenkot is the most unlikely president or prime minister in the state of Israel. The reason he is unlikely is because, although he is a former chief of staff of the Israeli army in person, in the nature of a man, in the manner in which he handles himself as a human being, is the opposite of Netanyahu. And I think that one of the reasons why he has become so popular is precisely because of this. When Netanyahu is pompous, with lots of militaristic and chauvinistic rhetoric, Gali Einzinger is the opposite. While Netanyahu is creating an atmosphere of hysteria and fear, Gadi Eisenkot creates an atmosphere of restraint, of responsibility, of moderation, and of open mind about all the different options. So I think that this has made him. The fact that he is the opposite of Netanyahu, that he is not arrogant, that he is reserved, that he is restrained. And I think that the policies are not going to be 180 degrees different from Netanyahu. It will take time. Israel has to pull out from the trauma which, of course, devastated us on the 7th of October. But I think that we are on the way to change the atmosphere, to change the attitude, and to become normal again, which we are not at the present time. And, sir, you mentioned the polls. Now, the polls also suggest a deeply divided electorate and no guaranteed parliamentary majority. Could Israel end up with political paralysis? And who would be the prime beneficiary of such chaos? Look, there is, in terms of numbers, in terms of figures, There is an option of a stalemate where there will be a larger block for change, but insufficient in terms of the absolute majority numbers which we need. So that will depend on whether the block of change will agree to cooperate with our parties, which will provide the absolute majority. There is a growing understanding and awareness and desire amongst many Israelis that the Arab party should be part of government They are part of the Israeli system. They are part of the Israeli citizens. They are just as good as everyone else, and they are loyal to the country, and there is no reason But, of course, the events with the Palestinians and the military and violent confrontation and the massacre of Israelis by the Hamas at the time And it created a certain mood of restraint and of caution about partnership with Palestinians. That has to change. I think that the only person that can change it, hopefully, after the elections, will be Gadi Eisenkot But it remains to be seen. And that may change the tide and provide the opposition with enough numbers to be able to form a government.