HE GRASPED THE DEMOGRAPHICS A LONG TIME AGO:

Sharon's stand-in signals more West Bank withdrawals (Tim Butcher, 25/01/2006, Daily Telegraph)

Ehud Olmert, the acting Israeli prime minister, last night committed his country to piecemeal withdrawals from the West Bank so that permanent borders can be set up in order to "ensure a Jewish majority" in Israel.

In his first major policy speech, Mr Olmert said he would follow the path of unilateral withdrawal started last summer by the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, who closed all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Having arrived at this position before Sharon there was never any question about whether Mr. Olmert would continue it--the question is whether Israelis think he's tough enough to do what has to be done to Palestinians (and Iran and whoever else) as he does it.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 24, 2006 11:44 PM