Olmert warns Israeli commanders of possible ICC prosecution over West Bank violence

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Israeli military and police commanders that they could face prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they fail to stop violence by Jewish extremists in the occupied West Bank, as he accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of endangering Israeli democracy while voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s election.

In an interview, Olmert said Israel’s military and police leadership could be held legally responsible for failing to prevent attacks against Palestinians.

“If you will not take care of the Jewish terror in the West Bank, you will be held legally responsible for the crimes which are committed there,” Olmert said.

“And you will be tried in the court of public opinion in the world, but possibly also in the International Criminal Court,” he added.

His warning comes amid international criticism of Israeli settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Olmert blames Netanyahu for October 7 attack

Olmert also accused Netanyahu of bearing ultimate responsibility for the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, arguing that his policies had helped the militant group develop its military capabilities.

“The complete and ultimate responsibility lies with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he said.

Olmert accused Netanyahu of refusing to engage with the Palestinian Authority while pursuing an understanding with Hamas that allowed the group to receive substantial funding from abroad.

The October 7 attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli figures, and triggered a devastating war in Gaza.

Netanyahu has faced sustained criticism over the security and intelligence failures preceding the attack, with opposition figures and families of victims demanding accountability.

Turning to Tuesday’s election, Olmert accused Netanyahu of attempting to frighten voters after the prime minister posted an image on X depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv.

Olmert described the post as a sign of political desperation and questioned Netanyahu’s previous statements about the destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

He accused Netanyahu of falsely claiming that Iran possessed atomic bombs that Israeli military operations had destroyed.

“It’s an outright lie, absolute nonsense,” Olmert said.

“They never had a bomb, they never possessed a bomb, and we never destroyed a bomb.”

Olmert acknowledged concerns about Iran’s uranium enrichment, referring to material enriched to 60 percent purity, but argued that this was different from possessing a completed nuclear weapon.

He also questioned why Netanyahu was invoking the prospect of a nuclear attack after previously declaring that Israel and the United States had eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Olmert accused Netanyahu of creating “an atmosphere of panic and hysteria and fear and imminent danger” to Israel’s existence.

“This is what dictators are normally doing at a time when they are on the verge of complete destruction politically,” he said.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, while Israel has accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons.

Olmert says Netanyahu could lose up to 40 percent of political power

Olmert predicted that Netanyahu would suffer a substantial political setback in Tuesday’s election, citing opinion polls indicating that the prime minister could lose between one-third and 40 percent of his current political strength.

“Netanyahu is going to lose between one-third to 40 percent of his present political power,” he said.

Israelis headed to the polls Tuesday in an election that could determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or an opposition coalition succeeds in replacing him.

Israel’s proportional representation system means that even the party winning the most seats may struggle to form a government without coalition partners.

A governing coalition generally requires the support of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset.

Olmert described the election as one of the most consequential in Israel’s modern history, warning that the country’s democratic institutions and political future were at stake.

He said the election was also about protecting the Supreme Court, reducing political polarization, ending extremist violence in the West Bank and restoring dialogue with the Palestinian Authority.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich ‘greatest threat’ to Israel

Olmert strongly criticized far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of encouraging extremist violence in the occupied West Bank.

He described the two politicians as “radical, messianic, extremist, fundamentalist sponsors and inspirators of the Jewish terror taking place in the territories.”

“They are the greatest threat to the well-being, to the security, to the status, and to the stability of the State of Israel,” he said.

Olmert argued that although the ministers retained significant political support, their combined popularity would not be sufficient to allow Netanyahu and his allies to form another government.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been prominent advocates of expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and have opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Olmert backs Eisenkot to replace Netanyahu

Olmert endorsed former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, as his preferred candidate to replace Netanyahu.

While acknowledging that several opposition figures were capable of serving as prime minister, including Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman, Olmert said Eisenkot stood out.

“I think he’s more mature, he’s more ready,” he said, citing Eisenkot’s popularity and polling strength.

Olmert argued that a strong showing by Eisenkot’s party would improve the opposition’s chances of forming a government.

He described the opposition candidates as being on the “right side of history,” while declaring that Netanyahu was “on the wrong side of history.”

Olmert says two-state solution essential for Israel’s security

Despite acknowledging that the October 7 attack had severely damaged Israeli public support for territorial concessions, Olmert insisted that a two-state solution remained the only viable way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He argued that Israel’s military campaign had substantially weakened Hamas, leaving the country better positioned to pursue a diplomatic settlement.

“There is not much left of Hamas,” he said, pointing to the destruction of much of the group’s military infrastructure.

Olmert also argued that Israel had demonstrated its military strength in confrontations with Hezbollah and Iran, giving it the capacity to take political risks in pursuit of peace.

“Israel has the power to defend itself, and therefore it also should take the risk of moving forward towards a two-state solution,” he said.

The former prime minister emphasized that his support for Palestinian statehood was rooted primarily in what he believed would benefit Israel.

“I’m not doing this for the Palestinians,” he said, arguing that a two-state settlement offered Israel the best prospect of greater security, improved international relations and an end to decades of conflict.

Olmert, who served as Israel’s prime minister from 2006 to 2009, pursued peace negotiations with Palestinian leaders during his time in office.

He ended the interview by urging Israelis to embrace political change.

“We have to change, and we can change,” he said, arguing that a change in leadership would benefit Israel, Palestinians and the wider region.