Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday evening that he is certain Israel and the Palestinian Authority can reach an agreement by the end of this year. He just doesn't see any chance of it being implemented anytime soon, as it requires an end to PA terrorism.

"I don't see any chance of us being able to implement an agreement in the near term," the Prime Minister said,
Prime Minister Olmert angrily dismissed criticism that he and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are compromising on Jerusalem.
addressing a pre-Passover holiday toast at Kadima party headquarters in Petach Tikva. "We will insist on all the terms of the Road Map, first and foremost among them a cessation of terrorism, as a precondition for implementation of any understanding. But the first step creating a horizon of hope for us and for the Palestinians can be taken, it must be taken, and we will make every effort in order to successfully do so this year." 

Of the negotiations with the PA, Prime Minister Olmert told the assembled leaders of his party, "I promise you that we will reach understandings ensuring that the State of Israel will be able to be a secure state, that knows how to defend itself, that has room to live, whose existence will not be made conditional on any circumstance or prerequisite. I believe it is possible to reach understandings that will produce a incomparable solution."

Prime Minister Olmert angrily dismissed criticism that he and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are compromising on Jerusalem and other key issues: "We don't need lessons from anyone - certainly not from our opponents in the opposition - about what the important issues are, that we have to insist upon and diligently defend. No one can teach me or any Kadima minister anything about the status, the importance and the symbolism of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

'We Have Security'
Turning to the ongoing rocket attacks from PA-controlled Gaza and IDF retaliatory raids, Prime Minister Olmert laid full responsibility at the feet of the Hamas terrorist organization. "We don't care which organization each terrorist belongs to," Olmert said, "the one managing what goes on in Gaza is Hamas. And that organization, and all of its members, are responsible for the ongoing terrorism and will have to suffer the unavoidable consequences of its actions in the south of the country." 

The Prime Minister promised that "the response to Hamas will be such that it will be unable to act against the citizens of Israel as it currently is." 

Olmert concluded his pre-Passover remarks to his party loyalists by saying, "Ahead of the 60th Independence Day, we can stand tall and tell ourselves: we have a wondrous country, we have achievements, we have power, we have security - and with them we will march forward [kadima in Hebrew - ed.]."  

Negotiations for Jerusalem continue apace, with a local Jerusalem paper reporting that Foreign Minister Livni has agreed to give away Atarot Airport.  Shas says it's still not leaving the government.

The Kol HaZman (All the Time) paper reports that in ongoing secret talks with top Palestinian Authority negotiator Abu Ala, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has agreed, in the name of Israel, to transfer the Atarot airfield in northern Jerusalem to PA control. The paper states it source as "senior Foreign Ministry elements."

The Goal: Strengthen Fatah
Israel apparently recognizes Hamas control in Gaza as permanent, and therefore wishes to strengthen Fatah - perceived as more moderate - in Judea and Samaria. 

Fatah terrorists, members of the organization's Al Aqsa Brigades, have carried out many murderous attacks against Israeli civilians in recent weeks, months and years.  One of the most active terrorist forces in the area, it has been designated terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Alternatively, it is not clear that the Hamas-takeover scenario will not repeat itself in Judea and Samaria, thus leaving the Atarot Airport in Hamas hands - if Israel in fact relinquishes it.

Mayor is Against
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski is strongly against the loss of Atarot to the terrorists.  His aides said he was "astonished" to hear of the secret agreement, and feels it will be a grave security failure and a significant concession on Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.

"It is inconceivable," the mayor reportedly said, "that while Israeli flights from Atarot have been stopped because of security fears, the threat will now become even more severe, with control of the entire area being given over to the PA."  He warned of the dangers of "hostile airplanes" in the skies of Jerusalem.

Lupoliansky promises he will work even harder to advance his plan to build 10,000 housing units for Jews in Atarot, hoping to thus thwart the plan to give it to the PA.

Jerusalem Municipality officials said the agreement to give away Atarot represents a de-facto recognition of the division of Jerusalem.

Olmert Takes no Responsibility
Staffers in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said, "These are talks being handled by the Foreign Minister, and therefore answers must be received from her."  Livni's press secretary said that the contents of the talks are not meant to be publicized.

Shas Doesn't Budge
Meanwhile, the Shas Party - whose departure from the government coalition would likely lead to the toppling of the government and new elections - continues to stay put.  Relating to a new American initiative to give the PA partial control of Jerusalem for five years, Shas spokesman Ro'i Lachmanovitch told Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine on Thursday that Shas was going nowhere: "We continue to stand behind the stance set by [the party's spiritual leader] Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, which is that the moment Jerusalem is placed on the agenda of the diplomatic talks, Shas will quit the coalition."

A late-breaking development in another sphere may move Shas, however: The sudden decision by the Cabinet secretariat not to discuss the non-enforced chametz law in this Sunday's agenda.  Shas had hoped for quick government action to legislate a change in the law that would enable its enforcement, in light of a recent court ruling allowing chametz to be sold in stores.  Shas MKs are reportedly angered by the decision, and political analysts estimate that Shas may threaten to quit the coalition over it - though this has not yet happened.

American presidential candidate Barack Obama told reporters Thursday that he "does not agree" with a decision by former President Jimmy Carter to meet with Hamas arch-terrorist Khaled Mashaal in Damascus next week. However, Obama has previously stated that he would meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if elected president.

The Democratic US Senator explained to ABC News, "I think that it is entirely legitimate to make distinctions between those who are heads of state, heads of established countries and those who have advocated terrorism," he said.

Ahmadinejad has clearly stated his intent to annihilate the State of Israel and also provides generous funding, advanced training, equipment, weapons and other support to Hamas, Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations that attack Israeli citizens daily.

The Iranian president also announced this week the addition of 6,000 new centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear power plant, bringing the current total to 9,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges working in defiance of a United Nations Security Council ban on the program.

It is believed by the international community that Iran is engaged in developing a nuclear weapon with which Ahmadinejad intends to fulfill his vow to destroy Israel.

Olmert, Livni Rebuff Carter
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni both turned down invitations to meet with Carter when he is in the region, claiming busy schedules, but an Israeli source told the Washington Times, "You draw your own conclusions." Other officials have expressed anger at Carter's meeting with Mashaal. However, President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman and Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman have set meetings with the former president.

The former president, whose recent book compares Israeli policies on the Palestinian Authority with former apartheid policies in South Africa, is scheduled to tour Sderot as well as travel to Ramallah to talk with PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) before heading to Damascus for his meeting with Mashaal.

State Dept 'Counseled' Carter Against Meeting
US State Department officials said Thursday that Carter had planned his meeting in violation of American policy and had been warned not to carry it out.

"US government policy is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and we don't believe it is in the interests of our policy or in the interests of peace to have such a meeting," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. The spokesman added that US officials had "counseled the former President about having such a meeting."

If Carter does meet with Mashaal, it will not be the first time he has tried to violate US policy regarding Hamas. The former president has offered to mediate ceasefires between Hamas and the rival Fatah terror group, and between Hamas and Israel – despite the fact that US officials are opposed to negotiating with the group.

The Halamish brothers from eastern Gush Etzion were sentenced to begin their seven- and eight-month prison terms, respectively, this past Thursday.  However, a last-minute ruling by  Jerusalem District Court Judge Moshe Ravid on Wednesday postponed their entry into prison - but no one is sure for how long.

Judge Ravid ruled that the rejection of the brothers' last appeal with no explanation was unacceptable.  He said that the brothers need not enter prison until another session was held on their case.

Today (Friday), another session was in fact held - but its results were inconclusive.  The defense claimed that Judge Ravid himself should make the final decision, while the Prosecution said the case must be transferred back to the court that originally sentenced the pair. 

Judge Ravid agreed with the Prosecution, and exempted himself from further adjudication of the case. 

Where does this leave the brothers?  Observers familiar with the case told Arutz-7 that the brothers are on their way home - "hopefully until at least after the Passover holiday."

The brothers, Danny and Itzik, had asked that their prison terms be delayed until President Shimon Peres has a chance to consider their request for a pardon.  They said it would be pointless to enter prison before Peres begins reviewing their case.

The Case
The two brothers, members of the emergency security team of the community of Maaleh Rechavam, were convicted of shooting at Arabs who infiltrated the town's fields.  They have maintained all along that they did not shoot at all, even though the Arabs attacked them.

The incident occurred in February 2004.  When the Arab gang entered the fields, the local security officer called two members of the local fast-response security team - Danny Halamish, 35, and his brother Yitzchak, 28 - and the three went out to banish the Arabs from the fields where Jewish children play.  The mob attacked the three with rocks and sticks, and then surrounded them.  The security officer shot at the ground in front of the Arabs, and then he and the Halamish brothers retreated. 

"The next thing we knew," Danny Halamish told Arutz-7, "the police came to arrest us - after the Arabs claimed that we had attacked them!... I have nothing to confess, since we did not shoot.  But even more importantly: I have no intention of apologizing for having gone out to protect Jews.  Even if I have to sit in prison for a few months, I will not say that it is wrong to do what I did.  What do we have a State for, if not to protect ourselves?  The State has lost its way..."

Danny, married with two children, says that though his legal position is solid, "the courts have taken the strange position that because we didn't make certain claims at the right time, our conviction stands. This is unheard of..."  In addition, the police fired the guns afterwards, thereby neutralizing the brothers' claim that the guns had not been fired.

For more details, see these Arutz-7 stories:
Two Brothers on Their Way to Jail for Protecting Jewish Town
Activist Groups Unite to Thwart Halamish Jailing

Two Palestinian Authority Arab workers in a Ramat Gan restaurant had, unbeknownst to their employer quietly been recruited by Hizbullah operatives and were planning to carry out a terrorist attack, it was revealed Thursday.

The two residents of the PA-controlled Samarian city of Shechem were illegally employed by the "Grill Express" restaurant on HaYarkon Street in Ramat Gan.

Both 21-year-olds, identified as Ihab Yehye Ahmed Abu Riyal and Anas Mustafa Said Salum, had been assigned to a unit of the Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades terrorist organization of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction after their initial recruitment by the Lebanese-based Hizbullah operatives.

The two were to have received the poison from two fugitive PA terrorists, Hani Ka'abi and Hosni Tzalag, fugitives from the Balata neighborhood of Shechem, who organized the technical aspects of the attack. The cell also considered the merits of infiltrating a suicide bomber into the area with the assistance of the two restaurant workers as well.

The poison itself was to have been a white, odorless and tasteless powder with a slow-release component which would have been undetectable when slipped into the food, thus allowing for harm to the maximum number of diners, according to security officials.

The would-be terrorists were arrested on March 19 in a joint operation by intelligence officers from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police, several days before the attack - which would have been the first of its kind - was to have been carried out.

"It should be emphasized that the terrorist infrastructure headed by Hani Ka'abi is currently active in attempting to perpetrate other terrorist attacks, possibly with the assistance of other [PA Arabs] illegally present in Israel," stated a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office.

Police say the owners of the Grill Express will face charges for illegally employing Palestinian Authority Arabs.

• Satellite Uncovers Iran's Secret Ballistic Missile Site

• Details of Nahal Oz Attack Show Imperfect IDF Response

• Next Demo Against Hacameri Theater on Monday

• Olmert Refuses To Meet with Carter

• New York May Be First City To Divest from Iran