•Where is Gaza headed and what have been the repercussions of the Yeshiva attack?

An estimated 80 per cent of Israelis had supported withdrawal from Gaza. Unlike the West Bank, we never had any historical claims on the Gaza Strip. And settlers had no security there. But we wrongly believed that the withdrawal would deprive the Palestinians of a pretext for targeting Israel. Today, Israelis are less forthcoming on concessions and withdrawing from the West Bank to the ’67 borders. The Yeshiva attack certainly hasn’t helped.

•So how enthusiastic are you about the two-state solution and what does the future hold for Jerusalem — an ‘open’ or divided city?

Most Israelis believe that it is in their interest that the Palestinians get their own state. Their living conditions are miserable and life in the camps is inhuman. However, once the Palestinians get their state, how does one ensure that it wouldn’t pursue aggressive designs against Israel? Jerusalem, however, is a more sensitive issue. It is too early to talk yet of Jerusalem as an ‘open city’ or one divided intricately between Arabs and Jews. You have to give Jerusalem time... You are looking at Jews, Muslims and Christians. The most practical thing to do would be to maintain the status quo for a while and see where we are in a decade or two.

•And what about the leadership of Ehud Olmert, somebody who was once regarded by the West as the most pragmatic Israeli leader post-1967?

... contd.