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Last update - 00:08 16/12/2008
Netanyahu, Barak reject Livni invitation for political debate
By Haaretz Service
Tags: elections, Livni, Netanyahu 

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni invited the heads of the two other major political parties, Labor Chair Ehud Barak and Likud Chair Benjamin Netanyahu, to a political debate ahead of the February 10 elections, but the two declined.

The heads of Israel's three leading parties met at a business conference sponsored by the financial publication Globes, held at a Tel Aviv hotel. The three doled out promises to the voters and made jabs at each other several times.

"This is the eve of the elections, and I will not launder words. I ask for the opportunity to succeed right off the bat, and not to make improvements like my two predecessors," Livni said in her address, referring to her two rivals, both of whom had served as prime ministers in the past.
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Livni addressed the possibility of a change in the governing system in Israel, saying that "altering the system is not enough. We need to change the governing etiquette and restore the public's faith in the politics."

"The Israeli public can not longer stand the system, and rightfully so. The public has learned it can also say no," she went on to say.

Barak also addressed the possible change, and promised to work toward implementing it. "Our government will examine the governing system in Israel so that over the next four years it can work for Israel's citizens and their future."

"The executive branch is lagging behind, and its power to battle the stubbornness and bureaucracy that are calcifying the executive arteries must be restored," Barak continued.

The financial crisis was also addressed by the candidates, with Netanyahu remarking that he plans to lower taxes if he is elected prime minister. "After the elections we need to climb up the incline quickly, and that means several things: if there is one thing that is missing from the current government's financial bailout plan it is the lowering of taxes as quickly as possible. Investors will come to countries with low tax levels, not high tax levels," the Likud chairman said.

Livni addressed Netanyahu directly, after the latter promised he would grant a complementary year of academic studies to any soldier who served in the Israel Defense Forces, saying "Bibi, you knew how to be very convincing when you raised the university tuition, just as you are now, when you're offering the first year free."
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  1.   How it looked on TV.... 00:46  |  Esther 16/12/08
  2.   Netanyahu and Barak afraid of getting hit with Livni`s pumps 01:03  |  Pablo B 16/12/08
  3.   The debate should be Bibi and Feiglin 06:51  |  Meir Weinstein 16/12/08
  4.   debate 07:31  |  colin 16/12/08
  5.   Its time For Livni To Give It A Rest, She Will Lose The Election 07:34  |  Judea 16/12/08
  6.   Ester #1 always has it wrong when it comes to Livni 07:39  |  Judea 16/12/08
  7.   Judea... alas, you`re really livid... 08:03  |  Esther 16/12/08
  8.   Livni has not announced Kadima`s platform. 08:40  |  redbourn 16/12/08
  9.   Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, Avigdo has made a much better proposal 09:22  |  Robert Haymond 16/12/08
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