Olmert: With or without Netanyahu, Trump will lead us to a two-state solution.

In an interview with the British Times newspaper, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presented a sharp vision for the future of the conflict in Gaza and Palestine, asserting that the historical shift towards a two-state solution will not come from his successor Benjamin Netanyahu but from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Olmert believes that Trump has a unique influence unmatched by any other world leader, and that his peace plan for Gaza, which was adopted by the United Nations Security Council, has placed the United States in an unprecedented position to impose a comprehensive settlement.

According to Olmert, Netanyahu (wanted by the International Criminal Court) does not dare to challenge Trump for fear of political repercussions, even though he has built his career over the years on rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The former prime minister points out that if former U.S. President Joe Biden had proposed what Trump is proposing today, Netanyahu would have fiercely attacked him and the Republican Party would have criticized him as well.

Olmert, who is 80 years old, believes that Netanyahu is incapable of leading Israel towards a two-state solution and that his political downfall is only a matter of time, given his trial on corruption charges and the increasing rebellion of the far-right partners within his government.

He describes the current moment in Gaza as fragile, with a tense ceasefire punctuated by repeated Israeli strikes and delays in deploying the international stabilization force.

He considers that maintaining the Gaza agreement is a prerequisite before moving on to address the "Palestinian issue," which he sees as the key to any regional progress, including expanding the Abraham Accords to include additional Arab countries.

Olmert recalls his extensive negotiating experience with the Palestinians, where he offered to establish a state on more than 94% of the West Bank, linking it to Gaza, but he admits that momentum can easily be lost; as happened in 2008 when his last meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas failed due to a dispute over the division map.

He remembers that his initiative also collapsed under the weight of corruption scandals that ended his political life.

He states that a similar fate may await Netanyahu, who faces personal and political challenges, including a corruption trial and a battle to maintain the cohesion of the messianic Jewish and far-right nationalist elements in his ruling coalition.

Olmert strongly attacks Netanyahu's far-right partners, describing them as "enemies of the state," and asserting that they will not accept a political direction leading to a Palestinian state.

He adds—in the interview conducted by the newspaper's correspondent in Tel Aviv, Gabrielle Weinger—that Netanyahu lacks principles and that his positions change solely according to his self-interest.

In discussing the war on Gaza, Olmert does not hesitate to direct sharp criticisms at the army and the government, considering that the killing of civilians was "random, brutal, and unchecked."

This has led to hostile protests in Europe, with attempts to pursue legal action on charges of war crimes.

Olmert concludes by emphasizing that the only path to a "less hostile and violent" future is a two-state solution, although he acknowledges that it is not an easy solution.