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Last update - 12:47 19/01/2009
Barak and Livni disagree with Olmert, want quick end to Gaza fighting
By Barak Ravid
Tags: Gaza, Ehud Olmert, Hamas, IDF

Sources close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed Sunday that he continues to disagree with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni regarding the question of continuing the warfare in Gaza. The so-called troika met last evening to discuss the subject, and both Barak and Livni reportedly argued for ending Operation Cast Lead as soon as possible. This is apparently the reason Olmert wants to present the issue to the security cabinet, where the majority supports his view.

Livni contends that continuing the offensive could harm the deterrence it has achieved so far and damage Israel diplomatically. Barak objects mainly to inserting ground troops deep into densely populated areas of Gaza. For his part, Olmert told the full cabinet Sunday that stopping Operation Cast Lead now would be a missed opportunity.


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Sources close to Olmert said Sunday, after the meeting of the three, that most of the security cabinet supports Olmert's stand or even believe the operation should be expanded. Olmert is likely to convene the security cabinet today to seek approval for an expansion of the operation.

Olmert's associates also said no one in the security cabinet supported Livni's position and that a few Labor ministers support Barak's position that an agreement should be reached with Hamas.

Olmert told the full cabinet Sunday: "The pressure we are exerting [on Hamas] must not be reduced. Anyone who broadcasts weakness will earn the good will of the global community for 12 seconds, but will not change anything essential."

Sources in the Prime Minister's bureau said Egypt has begun to relax its stance on bringing in American and European engineering experts to deal with the tunnels in the Rafah area.

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      1.   Both sides of the troika are right 06:00  |  Fortuna Benmayor 12/01/09
      2.   Livni and Barak...Barak and Livni 06:27  |  Connie 12/01/09
      3.   This is the First time I have ever Agreed with Olmert 06:36  |  Edward 12/01/09
      4.   Israeli Brains 06:38  |  Fred Willis 12/01/09
      5.   Lebanon 2006 all over again..... 06:51  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      6.   If Barak and Livni end the fighting it will show at the polls 07:18  |  Livin In Rishon 12/01/09
      7.   OLMERT IS THE MAN !!!. 07:36  |  Orao Stranka. 12/01/09
      8.   3 stooges - your movie ended long ago - go 07:39  |  goofy jew 12/01/09
      9.   Remove them 07:45  |  david 12/01/09
      10.   Olmert is right 07:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09
      11.   FINISH THE JOB or DO IT AGAIN IN 6 MOS. 07:53  |  *BEN JABO 12/01/09
      12.   Troika? 07:57  |  Jim 12/01/09
      13.   Agree with #2 07:57  |  Gillian 12/01/09
      14.   Barak and Livni cowards 07:58  |  rep 12/01/09
      15.   Olmert trying to atone for his past 08:10  |  Gregor 12/01/09
      16.   Barak is the Hero of ISRAEL 08:12  |  Al 12/01/09
      17.   olmert v.livni and barak 08:35  |  elliot 12/01/09
      18.   Cynical responses 08:43  |  Yom Shamash 12/01/09
      19.   foolish leaders of israel, shut up let the army finish the job 09:19  |  reuven 12/01/09
      20.   The real test of our leadership-the aftermath 10:22  |  Paul K 12/01/09
      21.   Damned if they do, damned if they don`t 10:32  |  Morris Valentine 12/01/09
      22.   hmmm... political positioning 10:41  |  yehuda 12/01/09
      23.   Yes, but.... 10:43  |  Esther 12/01/09
      24.   petty israeli politicos 10:52  |  robert 12/01/09
      25.   Olmert has developed a brain & Livni wants another 1701 11:04  |  zionist forever 12/01/09
      26.   Cooling the heat on Olmert. 11:41  |  Maureen Ann 12/01/09
      27.   #19 Mission impossible, Morris. 11:48  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      28.   If This Is True, Netanyahu Will Be The Next PM 11:50  |  Steve 12/01/09
      29.   #23 The Egyptian proposal is actually quite sensible, zf. 12:00  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      30.   This is Why Livni cannot be PM 12:22  |  Adrien 12/01/09
      31.   Dont forget Livni & Barak want to start their election campaign 12:51  |  zionist forever 12/01/09
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