Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday he believes he can almost see "the hand of God" in the coming together of purportedly Israel-friendly countries which are working to create a Palestinian state on the historical homeland of the Jewish people.
In an exclusive interview timed to coincide with the start of 2008, Olmert told The Jerusalem Post that he believed the current constellation of world leaders "favorably disposed" to Israel created "comfortable conditions" for negotiations that may not exist again in the future.
The prime minister said it is "a coincidence that is almost 'the hand of God' that Bush is president of the United States, that Nicolas Sarkozy is the president of France, that Angela Merkel is the chancellor of Germany, that Gordon Brown is the prime minister of England and that the special envoy to the Middle East is Tony Blair."
"What possible combination could be more comfortable for the State of Israel?"
Olmert maintained that it was imperative that Israel make every effort towards progress in the land-for-peace process as long as this lineup of friendly faces remains in place.
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