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Yisrael Beitenu Avigdor Lieberman. (Tess Scheflan / Jini) Last update - 16:39 14/01/2008 Netanyahu urges Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu to quit government By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: peace, Avigdor Lieberman  Opposition chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu to leave the government in wake of the first meeting between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia over the core issues. "Until now, Olmert made tactical concessions, but from today they are strategic and crucial to the future of Israel," said Netanyahu. "The first concession will be realized today, now that negotiations over a permanent settlement have begun, and the cessation of terror has been dropped as a preliminary requirement for entering negotiations. We know that they will relinquish half of Jerusalem and that we will withdraw to the 1967 lines, leaving them indefensible. All of this places a heavy responsibility on Lieberman and Shas. They are our friends, and they see the dangers as clearly as we do, and are aware of their implications. We expect them to draw the correct conclusions and stop this process now." Lieberman on Monday called the beginning of the negotiations a "Casus Beli." He said that all of Olmert's recent moves and statements, including the ones over the evacuation of outposts and the release of Palestinian prisoners, "are not good as far as Yisrael Beiteinu is concerned." Advertisement Lieberman on Monday defined the beginning of the negotiations a Casus Beli. He said that all of Olmert's recent moves and statements, including the ones over the evacuation of outposts and the release of Palestinian prisoners, "are not good as far as Yisrael Beiteinu is concerned." Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman is preparing to resign from the government, sources from his party said on Monday. According to the sources, Lieberman, who also serves as Vice Premier and chair of Yisrael Beiteinu, will hold a press conference on Wednesday to announce his decision. Lieberman will convene the Yisrael Beiteinu secretariat on Tuesday evening, following a meeting earlier in the day with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The strategic affairs minister returned Sunday evening from a private weekend trip to Europe, which caused him to miss the weekly cabinet meeting. He stance on the coalition, which had reportedly softened recently, hardened again after hearing of Olmert's declarations during the meeting that Israel's failure to evacuate West Bank outposts constitutes a disgrace. The meeting between Olmert and Lieberman was scheduled after the latter asked for clarifications from Olmert last week regarding reports of the start of talks on the so-called core issues - borders, refugees and Jerusalem - between Israel and the Palestinians. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian premier Ahmed Qureia were set to meet Monday morning to begin core issues negotiations. Lieberman has said that the start of such talks constituted a red line for his party. Olmert's government would still command 67 of the Knesset's 120 seats even if Yisrael Beiteinu's 11 lawmakers were to leave. But the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which has 12 lawmakers, has also threatened to leave the coalition if Jerusalem comes up for discussion, something that would deprive Olmert of a parliamentary majority. Ahead of the meeting between Olmert's meeting with Lieberman Tuesday, sources close to Olmert dismissed any substantive differences between the two. "Lieberman has no substantive reason for leaving the coalition government, unless he is politically motivated," sources close to Olmert said Sunday. The same source said that if Lieberman and his party leave the coalition, the government will not fall, and it will be possible to bring in United Torah Judaism. However, sources close to Olmert say that the prime minister has no intention of pushing Lieberman out of the coalition. They say that there is an understanding between Lieberman and Olmert that so long as no action on the ground is taken, Yisrael Beitenu will remain in the coalition. Lieberman, however, is still being targeted by Likud politicians for continuing to remain in the coalition, despite his promises to quit if the core issues were broached. Related articles: Lieberman to tell PM he may quit over nature of negotiations with PA Israel, PA negotiating teams to start talks on core issues Monday Several protests held against division of Jerusalem Bookmark to del.icio.us   Diskin's faulty math Haaretz finds the Shin Bet estimate of Palestinian civilian casualties is too low. Wooing minorities The color of Barack Obama's skin has returned as an issue to the campaign.   1.   Bye-bye, Loserman 11:09  |  Michael Steiner 14/01/08   2.   Lehitraot and farewell !!! 11:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/01/08   3.   Israel will attempt a number of strategies to avoid evacuation 11:18  |  Natallie Durson 14/01/08   4.   Natallie Durson No 3 12:14  |  Joanne 14/01/08   5.   @2der meister von cuckoo clocks ticks on 12:20  |  victor hardman 14/01/08   6.   Excellent news - a new Government will soon be formed 12:21  |  redmike 14/01/08   7.   Too little too late!!! 12:29  |  Jenny 14/01/08   8.   if only someone took you seriously 12:41  |  Ryan 14/01/08   9.   Repugnant Israeli Politicians 12:43  |  Proud Israeli 14/01/08   10.   # 5 Sorry, victor-pauli, but "permanent relief"..... 13:15  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/01/08   11.   It is taking him a longtime to make his mind up 13:23  |  Paul Wood 14/01/08   12.   United Torah Judaism should not become... 13:46  |  Nora 14/01/08   13.   Haaretz please News Flash the moment...... 14:32  |  Stephen. 14/01/08   14.   Natallie Durson #3 14:40  |  Sean Gordon 14/01/08   15.   A bloated political dwarf in search of a cause 14:51  |  Albert Edelson 14/01/08   16.   #15 edelson where are the political giants ? 15:07  |  v hardman 14/01/08   17.   #10 dino at afootball match cheers for the other team 15:12  |  v hardman 14/01/08   18.   how long will leiberman take to ger up to gear up? 15:24  |  yawn 14/01/08   19.   and now natan yahoo wants to show how he is doing nothing 16:04  |  hahaha 14/01/08   20.   VHAR(RIS)DMAN 16:08  |  Stephen Connor 14/01/08   21.   Look at Avigor Lieberman`s photograph! 16:39  |  Johnny Weintraub 14/01/08   22.   New Government - Now!!! 17:10  |  Nephtaly 14/01/08   23.   Why not find out first what Pals are demanding for peace? 17:50  |  Sam 14/01/08   24.   2. Natallie Durson strategies 18:06  |  Eylo 14/01/08   25.   #Joanne`s threats inappropriate 18:09  |  American 14/01/08   26.   OLMERT LEADS ISRAEL TO MARCH OF FOLLY 18:17  |  G. Marcus 14/01/08   27.   #3: actually, elections determine majority view 20:17  |  Paul Freedman 14/01/08   28.   So get out, so the whole world knows who is against peace 21:14  |  Pablo B 14/01/08   29.   netanyahu 11:41  |  Landskroon 16/01/08

Today Online Gaza militants fire at least 25 Qassams at southern Israel Responses: 47 IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad's top West Bank commander Responses: 30 Rosner: PM tells U.S. Jews he wants to hear their voice on J'lem Responses: 6 Amira Hass: Israelis don't get the extent of their domination over the Palestinians Responses: 17 Alexander Yakobson: Horrors of Amona leaves gov't too scared to evacuate outposts Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain Jewish leaders: "falsehood and innuendo used in mischaracterization of Obama" (WTR) Olmert to American Jews: I want your voice on Jerusalem The case for bombing Iran (WTR) The Israel Factor: Let McCain deal with Iran Poll: Does Bush still placing the promotion of democracy at the top of his agenda? More Headlines 11:32 Yisrael Beitenu bolts gov't over peace talks with PA 10:50 Gaza militants fire at least 25 Qassams at southern Israel 10:05 IDF soldiers kill Islamic Jihad's top commander in West Bank 08:13 Defense officials fear IDF raids in Gaza could threaten Shalit deal 10:31 German archives' opening helps Israeli man track his father's death in Holocaust 11:42 Vandals set fire to Israel Football Association offices in Ramat Gan 09:58 Bush: Olmert's coalition strong, can withstand peace process 09:44 Thai satellite company stops airing Hezbollah TV broadcasts 05:32 ANALYSIS / Despite raid, Hamas, Israel don't seek escalation 06:02 Jerusalem approves controversial Mughrabi bridge project Previous Editions Select Day 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan

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