Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., September 28, 2008 Elul 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:21 (EST+7)
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Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. (Nir Kafri)
Last update - 11:19 24/09/2008
Netanyahu: Israeli blood wasn't spilt so Hamas could move into Jerusalem
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu 

Likud chairman and opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu told Army Radio on Wednesday that he has no intention of joining a national unity coalition led by Tzipi Livni that would "relinquish the Golan Heights and divide Jerusalem."

"I don't want to build an Iranian base in the Golan Heights or in the heart of Jerusalem," Netanyahu told Army Radio. "This will be a government that will relinquish the Golan Heights and will divide Jerusalem. This is not a government with our (the Likud's) guidelines."

The Likud chair blasted the Kadima chairwoman for pledging to continue negotiations for a final settlement with the Palestinian Authority.
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"We know what we are dealing with on the other (Palestinian) side," Netanyahu said. "Today, there is no partner. There is a partner to talks but not to deeds. There is no Palestinian alive today who will kill a terrorist operative."

"I won't let Hamas enter East Jerusalem," the opposition chief told Army Radio. "Jerusalem is ours. We did not spill blood so that Hamas can settle in Jerusalem."

When asked how he reconciled his opposition to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights with the fact that he negotiated with Syria during his term as prime minister, Netanyahu replied that his steadfast stance led to key Syrian concessions on the issue of land.

"My first course of action as prime minister was to nullify the famous Rabin deposit," Netanyahu said, referring to Yitzhak Rabin's reported pledge to U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher stating that Israel commits to a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for firm security guarantees from Damascus.

Since Livni's narrow victory over Shaul Mofaz in the Kadima primary on Thursday, Netanyahu has sought to play up the difference between Kadima under Livni, who is prepared for territorial compromises, and Likud, which has pledged to keep Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount under Israeli sovereignty.

Netanyahu on Tuesday publicly rejected the call by Livni, Kadima's new chairwoman, to join a national unity government headed by her. Speaking at a news conference at Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv, together with Likud MKs, Netanyahu launched an all-out attack on a future Livni cabinet and its expected coalition with Labor and Shas.

"We are not joining a failure and we are the alternative to the failure," Netanyahu told the press. He also reiterated the Likud argument that "it is inconceivable for a small group of Kadima members to decide for the citizens of Israel." Netanyahu declined to divulge the content of his Saturday-night meeting with Labor chairman Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

"We are told that elections will undermine the stability of the government, but the opposite is true. As long as there are no elections there will be no stability. It will be a transitional government constantly preoccupied with its survival," Netanyahu said.

MK Silvan Shalom accused Livni of favoring "her chair over ideology," mentioning the period after the Winograd Committee report on the Second Lebanon War, "when she called on Olmert to resign but remained foreign minister. And after Talansky she mumbled something and stayed in the government."

Likud whip MK Gideon Sa'ar said that within the first 24 hours of coalition talks Livni "had broken all her promises." He said she had given in to Shas' demand to restore cuts made to monthly child allowances.
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  1.   Alright!!!!!!!!!!!! 11:02  |  C.A. Fulghum 24/09/08
  2.   But Does Bibi Mean It? 11:38  |  Ben Israel 24/09/08
  3.   Bibi smells blood and it`s woken him up for the time being 12:08  |  x-ray 24/09/08
  4.   Demagoguery inciting Israel to commit to Apartheid 12:09  |  Ivar 24/09/08
  5.   Bibi talks tough... 12:27  |  Fivish 24/09/08
  6.   Bibi speaks the truth 12:48  |  observer 24/09/08
  7.   There is a reason that Likud is not in power 12:50  |  Natallie Durson 24/09/08
  8.   Durson why a party is not in power in Israel is not your business 13:31  |  Israel 24/09/08
  9.   #7 nutullie and more wishful stupidity 13:56  |  victor hardman 24/09/08
  10.   To Ivar #4 14:18  |  howard 24/09/08
  11.   Netanyahu`s message better be heeded. 15:44  |  The Equalizer 24/09/08
  12.   What would happen with a PM like Netanyahu.? 16:10  |  Stephen. 24/09/08
  13.   Netanyahu is the answer... 16:59  |  Hartge 24/09/08
  14.   Netanyahu objects to peace 17:00  |  Jim 24/09/08
  15.   Netanyahi, the Conqueror 17:07  |  Jim 24/09/08
  16.   #13 Espoo 17:45  |  Daniela 24/09/08
  17.   #6 observer 17:48  |  Jim 24/09/08
  18.   #7 Natalie Durson 18:02  |  Jim 24/09/08
  19.   #8 Israeli 18:13  |  Jim 24/09/08
  20.   It comes down to new elections 1 vote for each Israeli 18:15  |  Shepherd 24/09/08
  21.   #10 howard 18:28  |  Jim 24/09/08
  22.   #13 Hartge 18:32  |  Jim 24/09/08
  23.   NETANYAHU IS RIGHT 19:01  |  MOSHIACH 24/09/08
  24.   YOU GO BIBI & THIS TIME WHEN YOU`RE ELECTED STAND BY YOUR WORDS! 19:24  |  dp 24/09/08
  25.   The Times Bring the Man 19:43  |  robert 24/09/08
  26.   Jim #14,# 15,#17,#18,# 19,# 21,#22. Natallie #7 19:45  |  Israeli citizen 24/09/08
  27.   Netanyahu is what Israel needs now!! 20:22  |  chris 24/09/08
  28.   None of my business? That`s a laugh 20:24  |  Natallie Durson 24/09/08
  29.   Kadima & Livni listen people want new elections 20:25  |  Livin In Rishon 24/09/08
  30.   Bibi should be the Prime Minister 20:51  |  JB 24/09/08
  31.   #24 dp 21:23  |  Jim 24/09/08
  32.   #27 chris What have you done 21:59  |  Jim 24/09/08
  33.   #28 Natalie Durson 22:03  |  Jim 24/09/08
  34.   #30 JB 22:14  |  Jim 24/09/08
  35.   Israeli blood wasn`t split for Hamas 22:27  |  Dolly 24/09/08
  36.   Go - Ben - Go 22:38  |  Ron 24/09/08
  37.   Benjamin Neyanyahu 23:46  |  Betty Carpenter 24/09/08
  38.   #32 Jimbo 11:18  |  Gregor 25/09/08
  39.   Bibi 22:00  |  John Luckey 25/09/08
  40.   It`s all about Belief 13:45  |  Yehoshua 28/09/08
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