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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. (Kobi Gideon / Bau Bau) Last update - 17:22 09/01/2008 Bush quizzes Shas chief Yishai over threat to quit government By Barak Ravid and Mazel Mualem, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Mahmoud Abbas  U.S. President George W. Bush took issue Wednesday with an Israeli political leader for his party's threat to quit the goverment over the nature of peace talks with the Palestinians. During his welcoming ceremony at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Bush paused while shaking hands with Israel's ministers to quiz Eli Yishai, the head of the Orthodox Shas party, asking if he were the person that the president had to talk to about pulling out of the government. Yishai responded by saying that they would talk about it during a ceremonial dinner on Thursday. Advertisement Bush arrived in Israel Wednesday, on the first leg of a weeklong tour of the Middle East. During the three days he is in Israel, he was to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as part of American efforts to reach a Middle East peace deal by the end of the year. Shas issued a statement Tuesday vowing to withdraw from the coalition government if Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached an agreement on the "core issues" of a peace agreement, namely refugees, final borders, and the future of Jerusalem. Earlier Wednesday, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas's spiritual leader, told Yishai that there is no need for Israel to conduct negotiations with Abbas as the Palestinian president "does not have control over the Palestinian territories." Yosef added that there is no need for talks as long as Palestinian militants continue to fire Qassam rockets at Israel. In regards to the issue of dividing Jerusalem, Yosef said that "no man is allowed to carry out concessions on the city." Related articles: The Bush visit in numbers Rice says Bush will urge leaders to reach peace deal Livni: IDF to continue fighting terror during peace talks Bush urges clear outline for a Palestinian state Rabbi Yosef: Shas will quit gov't if Jerusalem is on talks' agenda Minister Ayalon appeals to Shas leader to remain in coalition Netanyahu lobbies Ovadia Yosef in bid to stymie peace summit Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Bush go home' Israeli Arab parties join leftist protests against the Bush visit. Peace overture Syria says it isn't seeking a military solution with Israel.   1.   for once i agree with Shas 11:50  |  don 09/01/08   2.   talks 11:51  |  colin 09/01/08   3.   Ovadia and his opinions 12:44  |  Michael 09/01/08   4.   And then they talks of Islamist radicals 13:04  |  El-Birawi 09/01/08   5.   The problem with coalition government... 13:06  |  Nik "BANNED" Miller 09/01/08   6.   No Need for Ovadia Yosef to talk to Israel 13:19  |  SJ 09/01/08   7.   finally! 13:22  |  S 09/01/08   8.   The problem with coaltion government... (Second attempt) 14:01  |  Nik "BANNED" Miller 09/01/08   9.   El-Birawi 16:54  |  Shlomo 09/01/08   10.   where can i get outfit like Rabbi Ovadia Yosef? 17:19  |  cool threads 09/01/08   11.   Reality Check 17:32  |  a concerned citizen 09/01/08   12.   reply # 10 That Ayatollah look is so 80s 17:42  |  SJ 09/01/08   13.   Rav Ovadia always believed in peace, not in endangering Israel 17:43  |  Moshe 09/01/08   14.   Rabbi Yosef, Doesn`t it bother you that you`re endangering Israel 17:45  |  Chaim 09/01/08   15.   CORRUPT Olmert doesn`t want peace but to keep his seat 17:46  |  M 09/01/08   16.   El-Birawi #4 17:48  |  B 09/01/08   17.   Eli Yishai does not disappoint 18:15  |  Paul Wood 09/01/08   18.   # 4 El-Birawi - "Rabbi Ovadia is no different from Osama Bin Lade 18:31  |  17 09/01/08   19.   El Birawi #4 19:11  |  Leah 09/01/08   20.   Shas is right 19:12  |  Gili 09/01/08   21.   Shas corruption 19:33  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 09/01/08   22.   Good! 19:45  |  Danite 09/01/08   23.   nik miller 8 20:05  |  realism 09/01/08   24.   @Don | #1: "He is right"? 20:12  |  civilized Kid 09/01/08   25.   SJ #6 20:32  |  George Kaplan 09/01/08   26.   civilised kid 20:33  |  Allon 09/01/08   27.   To El-Birawi 20:36  |  Vladimir 09/01/08   28.   And if they don`t? 20:50  |  Axel 09/01/08   29.   I am quite curous how the israeli are 21:22  |  Kris 09/01/08   30.   Ovadia Yosef 21:22  |  Ussishkin 09/01/08   31.   ...and no man is allowed to speak for god 21:41  |  If 09/01/08   32.   to Axel from Germany 21:46  |  messershmidt 09/01/08   33.   The 5 billion dollar question 22:25  |  Natallie Durson 09/01/08   34.   Pull Out Now! 00:35  |  Dr. Allan 10/01/08   35.   Ovadia Yosef vs bin laden 01:30  |  ali 10/01/08   36.   Pull out now, move to Siberia! 03:27  |  George 10/01/08   37.   after arabs fired rockets ALI! 04:06  |  JfromC 10/01/08   38.   concerned citizen, you have it wrong 14:24  |  ash 10/01/08

Today Online Bush: I believe we will reach peace deal by the end of 2008 Responses: 107 Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike Responses: 37 Shavit: If they want a state, Palestinians must undergo ideology change Responses: 46 W. Bank Palestinians brace for visit by 'that criminal' Bush Responses: 27 Rosner's Domain What does "change" mean for Israel? How many states between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates? (WTR) New poll: Who is the candidate that will have better policies for Israel? Rosner's Guest: Israel at present is not a light unto the nations Rosner's Mailbox: Anti-Semites within Ron Paul's camp More Headlines 12:32 Bush: I believe we will reach peace deal in 2008 13:56 ANALYSIS: Palestinians believe Bush won't pressure Israel 14:42 Israeli envoy to U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran 14:13 Ministers to present PM list of Palestinians to free for Shalit 14:26 British magazine names Israeli model Bar Refaeli 'Body of 2008' 14:37 Montenegro air base that played role in Israel's birth under threat 14:59 Bnei Brak man accused of assaulting six minors he seduced online 13:04 Netanyahu to Bush: J'lem to stay under Israeli control for eternity 14:30 From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv: Israel's 2nd city promotes bicycling Previous Editions Select Day 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec

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