New prime minister is no newcomer to Washington

Olmert, 60, will meet with President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and leaders of the Jewish community.

He?ll also address Congress.

Israel-watchers say it?s a bit of a reunion for the prime minister.

“He is someone who is very well-known to the policymaking establishment in Washington,” said Josh Block, spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in D.C. “He has good relations with many members of Congress. He?s considered a very intelligent, very capable guy.”

Olmert made most of his contacts while serving as mayor of Jerusalem and was a frequent host ? and guest ? of U.S. delegations. He?s said to be very close to former New York mayor and possible presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

Olmert?s political career in center-right Israel politics was fairly conventional; his rise to the premiership was not. He was a lockstep ally of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and rose to become Israeli finance minister until Sharon was crippled by a stroke.

During his election campaign, Olmert bet everything on a unilateral withdrawal from some of the occupied territories. That surprised many, including Nathan Brown of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“He?s been more of a politician than a ideologue,” Brown said. “He was one of the brains behind the Sharon policy. In a sense, Washington has been dealing with him and his ideas for some time.”

Still, Brown said he?s worried by Olmert?s go-it-alone attitude.

“I think he will jump through diplomatic hoops to keep people happy,” Brown said, “but I don?t think he?s at all interested in diplomacy.”

Ehud Olmert

» Born in Binyamina in 1945

» 1973: Elected to the Knesset

» 1988-1990: Minorities minister

» 1990-1992: Health minister

» 1993-2003: Mayor of Jerusalem

» Feb 2003: Deputy prime minister

» 2003-2004: Communications minister

» Aug 2005: Finance minister

Source: BBC News

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