Ehud Olmert: Israeli-Greek Relations, Israeli Strategy in Gaza, and Criticizing Netanyahus Coalition

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently shared his thoughts on various issues related to Israel and the Gaza conflict in an interview with Kathimerini. He highlighted the excellent relations between Israel and Greece, expressing his dismay at anti-Semitic expressions by some Panathinaikos fans during a basketball game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Olmert criticized the lack of a clear Israeli strategy for Gaza and questioned the prolonged military operations and the management of the conflict by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. He emphasized the need for a balanced examination of the circumstances and events leading to the Gaza conflict, indicating that the criticism should consider the complexities of fighting against Hamas while minimizing civilian casualties. Olmert also discussed the political perspective of Gaza, advocating for a two-state solution and Palestinian governance in the region. In response to Turkish President Erdogan's accusations of mass killings in Gaza and comparisons to Nazi Germany, Olmert dismissed them as ridiculous and unfounded. He acknowledged the strained relations between Israel and Turkey due to Erdogan's political stance. Despite challenges, Olmert reiterated the importance of the Greek-Israeli friendship and expressed hope for the restoration of traditional cooperation between the two countries.

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