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Last update - 15:03 24/12/2008
Netanyahu pledges to topple Hamas if elected prime minister
By Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Staff
Tags: Israel News 

Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday pledged to topple the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip if elected prime minister in the February elections.

Speaking to a group of Russian speakers, Netanyahu said that under his leadership, Israel would move from a policy of absorbing blows to a policy of being on the offensive.

He said that apart from stopping the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, such a policy would also restore Israel's "national honor."
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He also reiterated previous remarks that Israel would hold on to the Golan Heights.

"It should be clear to the Syrians and to the world, the Golan Heights will stay in our hands," Netanyahu said.

In response to reports that leaders of the Meretz party are seeking to create a "blocking majority" against a rightist government, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of turning Likud into the biggest party so that it could assemble a government. He said the rightist camp would be his first option in the search for coalition partners, but that he would also turn to other parties in order to create a wider coalition.

Netanyahu added that under no circumstances would he offer Shas the education ministry. He said the portfolio would remain the responsibility of Likud, and claimed he has not promised Shas anything that is likely to strike at the Russian-speaking community.

Likud MK Yuli Edelstein said the party aims to win seven or eight seats from Russian speakers alone at the February 10 general election, more than it has achieved in the past.

Kadima Chairwoman Tzip Livni made similar comments Monday to Netanyahu's regarding Hamas. After a meeting with the party's security forum, she said the forum had set the toppling of Hamas from its rule in the coastal territory as a central goal for the long term. Until that target is reached, Israel will work to regain its power of deterrence and to defend its citizens, she said.


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      1.   Bibi the extremist!...nevertheless I like! 14:51  |  sinalco 24/12/08
      2.   I don`t care WHAT he promises, it`s the HOW and how many lives .. 16:11  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 24/12/08
      3.   topple hamas !!! 16:19  |  J. B. 24/12/08
      4.   one can only hope and pray that this headline comes to pass!!! 17:03  |  glenna 24/12/08
      5.   basic questions ... How exactly? 17:24  |  spyguy 24/12/08
      6.   Bibi Sounds Moderate 17:30  |  Baruch Gold 24/12/08
      7.   LIVNI MUST BE BOOTED OUT OF OFFICE SHE IS AN INEPT LEFTIST 17:35  |  Harrold 24/12/08
      8.   Netanyahu`s promises are everything 17:53  |  Robert Haymond 24/12/08
      9.   Blustering Bibi 18:53  |  Jay Bob 24/12/08
      10.   NyetToYahoo: ...Restore Israel`s "National Honour" 19:15  |  chet 24/12/08
      11.   Self interest 19:36  |  alan 24/12/08
      12.   Just as he did last time he was Prime Minister 20:04  |  Mark Lincoln 24/12/08
      13.   hamas 20:19  |  azad 24/12/08
      14.   Livni siad it--so net and yahoo has to--they are both losers 21:02  |  Labhras 24/12/08
      15.   Bibi, you had your chance at it back in your years. You think our 22:17  |  Philip 24/12/08
      16.   To # 5 spyguy - How to topple Hamas..... 22:40  |  Josephus 24/12/08
      17.   Hamas promises to bugger natan yahoo if elected 01:25  |  hamas 25/12/08
      18.   and his next promise will be to resolve the financial crisis 02:05  |  Murray 25/12/08
      19.   we need bibi- the brain and the ability to keep israel strong 18:10  |  anat 07/01/09
      20.   Bibi (traumatised child) 22:51  |  Karma 20/02/09
      21.   Chet wake up you islamist lover 10:56  |  Martin 25/02/09
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