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Last update - 00:22 06/02/2009
Elections 2009 / Netanyahu: Lieberman campaign against Israeli Arabs is 'legitimate'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Lieberman 

Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday branded as "legitimate" rival prime ministerial candidate Avigdor Lieberman's electoral campaign against Israeli Arabs.



"This is a legitimate bill, which has already been proposed by Likud MK Yisrael Katz, but the problem with it is enforcement. It is legitimate to demand that the citizens of a state should be loyal to it," said Netanyahu in an interview with Channel 2.
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Netanyahu was referring to Lieberman's vow to pass a citizenship law that will "prevent the disloyalty of some of Israel's Arabs."

Lieberman's hardline Yisrael Beiteinu has built its campaign ahead of next week's general election around the slogan: "No citizenship without loyalty," which is directed at Israeli Arabs, some of whom the party accuses of constituting a fifth column.


Netanyahu also dismissed expressions of pity made by Lieberman toward him on Wednesday over an "intifada" he said was being waged within the Likud.

"[I'm] thankful for his concern, but everyone needs to worry about his party," the Likud chairman said.

Netanyahu's main rival Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni also touched on the issue of Israeli Arabs on Thursday when she said that all Israeli citizens should be obliged to enlist for military or national service. This was an apparent reference to the exemption from service of Israeli Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox.

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      2.   In recent weeks I have repeatedly been censored 22:54  |  Mark Lincoln 05/02/09
      3.   Well, recruit haredim and Arabs then! 22:57  |  sh 05/02/09
      4.   exemption from service of Israeli Arabs 23:00  |  Axel 05/02/09
      5.   Netanyahu bouncing far right 23:07  |  Ernst 05/02/09
      6.   Majority of Israeli-Arabs have no problem with serving 23:27  |  Rami of Nazareth 05/02/09
      7.   It goes both ways -- Jews should have to vow loyalty 23:50  |  Pablo B 05/02/09
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      10.   James- well said!! 05:08  |  fluffy 06/02/09
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      12.   Not only are Israeli arabs not loyal to Israel but PA 08:34  |  Susanna/Shoshana 06/02/09
      13.   #9Israel had no problem expelling Rabbi Kahane 08:41  |  Susanna/Shoshana 06/02/09
      14.   #10Israel should enact German law regarding Holocaust denial 08:44  |  Susanna/Shoshana 06/02/09
      15.   Even a citizen who plots the destruction of their country should 09:02  |  Susanna/Shoshana 06/02/09
      16.   Kaled 09:16  |  Allon 06/02/09
      17.   The absurdity and hypocrisy of Netanyahu`s "legitimacy" 09:26  |  Dutch 06/02/09
      18.   The US, and soon Britain, also have loyalty oaths. 14:51  |  JoI 06/02/09
      19.   racist 21:03  |  shlomo 06/02/09
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      22.   to Rami in Nazareth:if what you say is true 23:33  |  Arie 06/02/09
      23.   #1 peacelover 23:54  |  Moshe 06/02/09
      24.   #4 Axel 00:14  |  Moshe 07/02/09
      25.   Alon # 16 - Simple reply 00:15  |  Amir 07/02/09
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