Olmert Reveals Historic 2008 Peace Proposal Map to the Public for the First Time

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has revealed for the first time the map he presented to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008, which laid out the details of a two-state solution. Olmert's public disclosure comes as part of a new documentary series titled Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to 7th October, set to air on BBC iPlayer.

In an interview for the series, Olmert shared that, during a meeting with Abbas on September 16, 2008, he showed the map and urged the Palestinian leader to sign the deal immediately. Olmert recalled saying, “Sign it! Sign it, and let’s change history!” However, Abbas responded cautiously, calling the proposal "very, very serious," and ultimately declined to sign the map without further consultation.

The proposed plan included significant territorial compromises. Olmert offered to annex 4.9% of the West Bank to Israel in exchange for a similar-sized area of land from Israel near Gaza. The agreement would have seen major Israeli settlement blocs remain under Israeli control while smaller settlements would have been evacuated. A key part of the proposal also included the division of Jerusalem, with both Israelis and Palestinians having their respective capitals, and a "holy basin" around Jerusalem’s Old City that would be jointly administered by Israel, Palestine, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

Additionally, Olmert suggested the creation of a tunnel or road linking the West Bank to Gaza, which was then under Hamas control. This proposal, however, never came to fruition. After the meeting, Abbas returned to Ramallah and sketched a version of the map on a napkin for his team. Despite the far-reaching nature of the offer, Abbas and his aides did not take it seriously, partly due to Olmert’s political instability at the time, as he was facing corruption charges and was about to resign.

The peace talks did not progress, and within months, Israel and Hamas were embroiled in conflict during Operation Cast Lead, further derailing the negotiations. The failure of this offer and the election of Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposed Palestinian statehood, marked the beginning of a stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that has lasted for years.

Olmert’s decision to reveal the map now brings renewed attention to the longstanding impasse in peace talks. The 2008 offer remains one of the most significant and far-reaching proposals ever made by an Israeli leader.