New Delhi: Former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke against the escalation of the ongoing war against Hamas today and underscored the need to limit collateral damage in the Gaza strip, where Israel is expected to launch its ground assault any day. The invasion has become a cause of concern to many, including the United Nations, triggering a series of talks between world leaders. But Mr Olmert said US President Joe Biden's remarks about Israel's right to retaliate rules out a diplomatic solution.
"I don't think a diplomatic compromise is aimed at with Hamas," Mr Olmert told NDTV in an exclusive interview. "We should try and minimise the collateral damage. This is not a competition of who kills more. We are not interested in killing civilians," he added.
But he also underscored the stance Israel has taken since the Hamas attack of October 8, saying, "We want peace but there will be no peace if Hamas is there. We know innocent people have died but Hamas is not letting them go".
"We must make a concerted effort to try and remove Hamas from its position. This is an essential step to achieve peace but there will never be peace if Hamas is there," he said.
Mr Olmert also indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to be blamed for the attacks.
"Netanyahu is responsible for the build-up of Hamas capabilities … Netanyahu personally and directly responsible for deal with Hamas… and 80 per cent of the people want him out," said the leader, who started his political career with the ruling Likud party but shifted to Kadima, formed by moderates led by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in 2006.
Kadima is in favour of a disengagement plan -- removing Israeli settlements from Palestinian territory while fixing Israel's borders with a prospective Palestinian state.
The Prime Minister, Mr Olmert said, is responsible for the policy that downgraded the moderate Palestinians that "we should have been negotiating with" and led to the rise of Hamas. This, he said, was because Hamas "was supposed to be safe since they were not a candidate for negotiations, so he (Mr Netanyahu)would not have to make concessions for them".
Mr Netanyahu, he added, was also directly and personally responsible for the deal with Hamas which led to the release of "1,000 murderers of Hamas in exchange for one Israeli soldier".
Asked why he was confident that Mr Netanyahu will have to go despite the presence of a unity government, Mr Olmert said it was not really a unity government. Two distinguished Israelis -- former Chiefs of staff -- have joined for a short period and one purpose only, to help the Israeli army beat Hamas.
"They are not partners of Netanyahu, they will not be partners of Netanyahu and together with other other political forces, they will do whatever is necessary to get him out." he added.