SPIEGEL ONLINE: Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was quoted on Wednesday as saying that a truce was near, but that the issue was separate from the question of the future of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.
Olmert: Israel never said that it has to be simultaneous but, as I said, for us nothing will be complete before Schalit is back.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: The people in Gaza don't seem to see any incentives that would convince them to stop firing the Qassam rockets over the border into Israel.
Olmert: I am more optimistic than you. I think that there are quite a few people in Gaza who are sick and tired of these atrocities and this violence. I saw Tim Sebastian on the BBC a few days ago and it was young ladies from Gaza who criticized Hamas leader Mahmud Al-Zahar, saying: "You are destroying our lives rather than helping people from Gaza."
SPIEGEL ONLINE: But Israel controls the borders. If they stop firing the rockets, will Israel ease passage at crossing points?
Olmert: We said it! The passage at the crossing points was much more active when they did not shoot that much. I personally intervened at that time in order to reopen the crossings of Erez and Karni from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day so that 480 trucks could cross with 20 or 30 tons each of merchandise and food.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice criticized the new settlement construction during her visit to Israel earlier this week.
Olmert: I understand the sensitivity of the Palestinians, but I don't agree. Before the Annapolis conference last December, there was only the international road map. It said if there will be no cession of terror, there will be no negotiations. Each side was sitting and accusing the other. I came to Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and said, "Okay, there is terror. You will fight terror and let's talk in the meantime. Let's not waste time!" The wisdom of Annapolis is that, notwithstanding the obstacles on the periphery, we keep going in the mainstream and try to reach an understanding. If we reach an understanding, then borders will be fixed. What falls on the Israeli side will remain Israeli and what falls on the Palestinian side will become Palestinian -- even if it was built by the Israelis. And at the same time, terror will have to be stopped entirely because there will be no implementation before terror is stopped completely.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is an agreement possible by the end of this year as outlined in Annapolis?
Olmert: The purpose of these talks is to define accurately the concept of a two-state solution, which means a proposed solution of the refugee issue, of the security arrangements, of the issue of Jerusalem and so on. We've made an important, significant step forward. We say that we hope to reach an understanding on these issues by the end of 2008. We have said we will try. And I think it's possible.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: You are currently the subject of a police investigation. How confident are you that you will be able to survive politically until the end of your term?
Olmert: Look, miracles in the Middle East are a reality. Ben Gurion once said, "Only those who believe in miracles are realists in the Middle East." So anything can happen. My predecessors were all investigated, all were accused, all were prosecuted -- in an atmosphere that was sometimes intolerable. And they are all still alive and kicking -- except for Ariel Sharon, whom I wish the best for a complete recovery. When I took over two and a half years ago, there were very few Israelis who believed that at the end of June 2008 I would still be prime minister -- especially considering the challenges that I faced. But here I am. I am sitting here and I have no intention pulling out.
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