A word for Israel

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The rebuke was too cautious. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman reacted with restrained dismay to the irresponsible and petty behaviour of Ehud Olmert. Last Wednesday, Israel's outgoing prime minister said that his government was not going to open Gaza's crossing points, as part of a calming-down deal, unless captured soldier Gilad Shalit was released first. The sudden announcement wrong-footed Egypt and sent truce talks reeling.

It didn't have to be that way. A parallel deal could have been made on Shalit, separate from the ceasefire arrangement. Egypt has been working on such a deal, one that entails the release of a list of Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations on this deal had been ongoing with Israel for a while.

Such a deal would have helped consolidate the calming- down process. It would have also offered the right climate for the resumption of Palestinian reconciliation talks, an imperative now supported by Washington. But Olmert had other things in mind. He didn't like the names of a handful of prisoners on the Palestinian list, so he threw the baby out with the bathwater.

Olmert's move was lamentable and reflected badly on the Israeli government. It embarrassed Amos Gilad, the senior Israeli Defence Ministry official involved in the talks. Stunned by the decision, an indignant Gilad said that Olmert was following the negotiations closely and had no reason to change his mind so suddenly. By pretending that Israel wasn't aware of the course of negotiations with Hamas, Olmert has undermined Egyptian mediation efforts.

The Israeli prime minister, who now refuses to open Gaza's crossings in return for a calming-down deal, has taken everyone back to square one. Now he blames Hamas for the failure of the talks, and threatens to shell Gaza if Hamas fires another rocket. In reality, Israel is responsible for the catastrophic situation in Gaza. The blockade and Israel's subsequent military offensive destroyed all means of subsistence for Gaza. Israel destroyed the workshops and fields that provided the inhabitants of Gaza with a sliver of livelihood. Israel is refusing to acknowledge any of that.

Europe will show its usual sympathy with Egypt. It may even put some pressure on the outgoing Israeli prime minister. But Egypt needs to stand up for itself. Egypt must let Israel know that it has commitments to honour and relations to preserve. We have an ambassador in Israel to this day. Is there any point in keeping him there? Shouldn't we recall our ambassador?