“Enough Is Enough—Stop the War”: Former Israeli PM Olmert Urges Trump to Rein in Netanyahu, Calls Gaza War a “Crime”
In a powerful and emotional appeal, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to directly tell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Enough is enough”—urging him to bring an end to the ongoing bloody conflict in Gaza, which Olmert described as a “crime.”
“Enough Is Enough—Stop the War”: Former Israeli PM Olmert Urges Trump to Rein in Netanyahu, Calls Gaza War a “Crime”
“Enough Is Enough—Stop the War”: Former Israeli PM Olmert Urges Trump to Rein in Netanyahu, Calls Gaza War a “Crime”
In a powerful and emotional appeal, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to directly tell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Enough is enough”—urging him to bring an end to the ongoing bloody conflict in Gaza, which Olmert described as a “crime.”
In an interview with AFP in Paris, Olmert—who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009—stated, “The United States has more influence over Israel than all other countries combined.” He asserted confidently, “If Trump wants, he can bring real change.”
Netanyahu's Leadership a Failure, Says Olmert
Olmert accused Netanyahu of failing to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, calling it proof of his unfitness to lead.
“Although there was international support at the beginning of the war, Netanyahu rejected opportunities to stop it—especially in March—choosing instead to escalate the conflict. That support has since faded,” Olmert said.
“Netanyahu is prioritizing his own political interests above the national interest,” he added. Analysts believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war out of fear that halting it would collapse his ruling coalition and lead to electoral defeat.
Olmert warned:
“If this war cannot free the hostages, defeat Hamas, or protect Israeli soldiers, hostages, and innocent Palestinians—but instead leads to their deaths—then it is a crime. It is reprehensible and unacceptable.”
He appealed directly to President Trump, saying:
“Trump must summon Netanyahu to the Oval Office and say in front of reporters: ‘Bibi, that’s enough.’ I don’t know if he will—but we must hope.”
Two-State Solution Is the Only Way
Alongside former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa, Olmert is promoting a peace initiative aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict permanently. The proposal includes a 4.4% land swap, allowing some West Bank settlements to remain under Israeli control while some Israeli territory is transferred to a future Palestinian state.
This plan will be presented at an upcoming international peace summit in New York co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
Olmert described the plan as “realistic, applicable, and timely.”
The Grim Toll of War
The October 7 Hamas attack killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians. 251 hostages were taken; 54 are believed to still be in Gaza, while 32 have reportedly died.
On the other hand, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 54,880 people have been killed in Israeli counterattacks, the majority of them civilians. The United Nations considers this figure credible.
“Both Leaders Must Go”
Olmert and Kidwa acknowledged that convincing people to support peace amid war is challenging—but they hope a new mindset will emerge after the conflict ends.
However, Olmert expressed doubt that the current Israeli and Palestinian leadership could ever implement the plan.
“Mahmoud Abbas is corrupt and incompetent. Netanyahu has proven himself as well. Both must go,” he declared.
