Olmert describes Palestinian Referendum as 'meaningless'.

Olmert has been reported as saying that the plan to be put to a Palestinian referendum cannot be a basis for negotiations with Israel and is meaningless. Whether it can be a basis for negotiations is one thing (though Olmert seems determined not to enter into any negotiations with the Palestinians unless they have surrendered all their objectives in advance of them). But to call the Referendum meaningless is just stupid, and another example of undermining Abbas in his struggle against Hamas. Olmert has learnt nothing from Sharon's mistake in this respect, which played at least some part in Hamas' electoral victory. Abba Eban used to say that the Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. This is, alas, now true of Israeli governments also.