Olmert's acceptance of a cease-fire will be his demise

Israel has been a country united during this current war. Would that Americans were so united. But unlike some Americans, the Israelis will never accept anything less than victory. That is, the Israelis of years gone by wouldn't. They don't have that luxury. They are surrounded by enemies who vow to obliterate them.

Any cease-fire initiated by France and, shamefully, the U.S., will only serve to allow Hezbollah to rearm and give Nasrallah the chance to emerge from hiding and claim victory. It won't end anything. It can only create a stronger Hezbollah, which is why this so-called cease-fire is a travesty which Israel cannot abide.

According to a piece in Haaretz Olmert cannot remain at the helm if the cease-fire happens:

Ehud Olmert may decide to accept the French proposal for a cease-fire and unconditional surrender to Hezbollah. That is his privilege. Olmert is a prime minister whom journalists invented, journalists protected, and whose rule journalists preserved. Now the journalists are saying run away. That's legitimate. Unwise, but legitimate.

However, one thing should be clear: If Olmert runs away now from the war he initiated, he will not be able to remain prime minister for even one more day. Chutzpah has its limits. You cannot lead an entire nation to war promising victory, produce humiliating defeat and remain in power. You cannot bury 120 Israelis in cemeteries, keep a million Israelis in shelters for a month, wear down deterrent power, bring the next war very close, and then say - oops, I made a mistake. That was not the intention. Pass me a cigar, please.

Read the rest of the piece and keep your eyes on Israel this weekend. The cease-fire is supposed to commence on Sunday. We'll see.

More about the U.N. agreement here.