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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Daniel Bar-On) / Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (Motti Kimche) Last update - 10:17 15/01/2008 PM to aides: Progress in peace talks worth risk to coalition By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his associates on Monday that he intends to advance the diplomatic process and negotiations on the core issues even if this makes him lose his parliamentary majority. The statement was made in advance of his meeting set for Tuesday with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who has threatened to pull his party out of the coalition if Olmert starts talks with the Palestinians on the core issues of borders, Jerusalem and the refugees. Lieberman issued this ultimatum last week, but on Monday the negotiating teams headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia held their first session on these topics. Olmert also told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that serious talks are impossible without addressing the core issues, and he intends to hold serious talks. Advertisement Even if Yisrael Beiteinu leaves, Olmert's coalition would still command a comfortable majority of 67 MKs. The premier would prefer a larger coalition, however, and has begun wooing United Torah Judaism to join the government in Lieberman's place. Though previous efforts to bring UTJ into the coalition have failed, Olmert's associates believe that the party will agree this time. At a Yisrael Beiteinu faction meeting on Monday, Lieberman made his case for quitting the coalition. He said the government has violated the red lines the party set, so the party would seem to have no choice but to leave. But he asked faction members not to speak to the media until after his meeting with Olmert today, where he will request clarifications about the negotiations and the government's plans to evacuate illegal settlement outposts. Tuesday evening, Lieberman will convene his party's secretariat to discuss the results of his meeting with Olmert and decide what to do. On Wednesday, he plans to call a press conference to announce his decision. Lieberman told associates on Monday that the start of negotiations on the core issues is a "casus belli." Olmert's declared intent to evacuate outposts and his decision to relax the criteria for releasing Palestinian prisoners are also "troubling," he said. Until now, Olmert has worked hard to keep Lieberman in his coalition, and according to senior Yisrael Beiteinu officials, Lieberman had expected the premier to be similarly accommodating this time. Instead, to his surprise, Olmert simply ignored the party's red lines, which he views as a sign that Olmert wants to see him leave the government. Senior Kadima officials echoed this assessment. Yisrael Beiteinu's departure would actually be convenient, they said, because it would increase pressure on Labor to remain in the government even after the Winograd Committee publishes its final report on the Second Lebanon War at the end of the month. "The Labor Party and [party chairman] Ehud Barak will be able to argue that without Lieberman, the diplomatic process can be accelerated, and therefore, it would be irresponsible to leave the government," explained one. "Sooner or later, Lieberman will leave anyway, so it's better [if it happens] now, before Winograd." Unlike Yisrael Beiteinu, Labor is essential to Olmert: Without it, he does not have a coalition. However, during his campaign for the party leadership last spring, Barak had pledged to quit the government after the Winograd report was published. An Olmert associate said on Monday that there was no reason for Lieberman to be surprised by recent developments. Olmert "wants to reach an agreement [with the Palestinians], and he intends to realize his vision, even at the price of Lieberman's departure," the associate said. Meanwhile, Likud is continuing its efforts to persuade both Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas to quit the coalition. "Like us, they see the dangers [of Olmert's diplomatic moves], and we expect them to draw conclusions and quit the government now," Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said at a faction meeting on Monday. Related articles: Kurtzer: Little chance for Middle East peace by end of Bush term Peres: Chance for talks will be lost if we wait till all sides ready Netanyahu urges Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu to quit government Bookmark to del.icio.us   And the winner is Haaretz's Gideon Levy wins prize for cultural dialogue. The Amona syndrome Gov't fears it will pay the public price of removing outposts.   1.   But are the peace talks worth the risk to the security of Israel? 08:49  |  Proud Israeli 15/01/08   2.   Olmert on the gas, Lieberman on the brakes, is a non-starter 08:49  |  Ivar 15/01/08   3.   is this man totally insane? he represents no one ! 08:56  |  v hardman 15/01/08   4.   Good peace talk means no peace in sight 08:59  |  Natallie Durson 15/01/08   5.   Advancing of peace talks whould only proceed once the Palestinian 09:15  |  Avihu 15/01/08   6.   #2 - there can be no peace with Islam 11:04  |  redmike 15/01/08   7.   olmerts wrong headline 11:33  |  ron 15/01/08   8.   Go for it Olmert! 11:42  |  Esther 15/01/08   9.   # 1 to a proud israeli re: peace 12:06  |  eric 15/01/08   10.   # 8 i`m with you, esther! 12:11  |  eric 15/01/08   11.   THE WORST IN ISRAEL HISTORY 12:34  |  indrajaya 15/01/08   12.   Iran with Syria and Abu Olmert` Policies of Restraint are 13:01  |  Joseph E . 15/01/08   13.   Hot Potato : The Fanaticism of Reason 13:31  |  Joseph E . 15/01/08   14.   Good luck Olmert! 13:49  |  Nik Miller 15/01/08   15.   # 4. Natallie. First time I agree 100 % with you. 13:50  |  Stephen. 15/01/08   16.   Israeli Politicos should read Spanish History. 14:06  |  Stephen. 15/01/08   17.   #8 - hard to understand why you haven`t grasped that there cannot 14:26  |  redmike 15/01/08   18.   olmert calculations 15:13  |  mrv 15/01/08   19.   Bush & Sarkozy. Patrons of Israel...!! 15:30  |  Stephen. 15/01/08   20.   #5 Avihu 16:29  |  Boycott 15/01/08   21.   Especially if Olmert can find a(nother) partner he can buy 16:31  |  Yaakov K. 15/01/08   22.   #17 redmike 16:32  |  Boycott 15/01/08   23.   Olmert is clever 18:10  |  Hoffman 15/01/08   24.   olmert and beiteinu 18:31  |  marcel 15/01/08   25.   Why Bother? 20:56  |  Mike 15/01/08   26.   Natallie #4 03:02  |  Observer 16/01/08   27.   Esther#8 03:07  |  Observer 16/01/08   28.   Joseph E. #12 03:12  |  Observer 16/01/08   29.   Lefties = Only Ones Left Supporting the Crook 06:18  |  Tod Zuckerman 16/01/08   30.   Are peace talks a security risk? 03:11  |  Dan Chazan 17/01/08

Today Online 5 Gazans, including 3 civilians, killed as rockets pound Negev Responses: 445 Lieberman blasts Arab MKs, pulls party out of government Responses: 160 IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad's top West Bank commander Responses: 107 Hamas: End IDF raids or Shalit will become another Ron Arad Responses: 129 Amira Hass: Israelis don't get the extent of their domination over the Palestinians Responses: 126 Rosner's Domain Jewish leaders: "falsehood and innuendo used in mischaracterization of Obama" (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: And what if Obama's a Muslim? With focus on Obama-Clinton race, veep chatter begins Olmert to American Jews: I want your voice on Jerusalem The case for bombing Iran (WTR) More Headlines 05:04 Top IDF source: If Hamas shows restraint, Israel will follow 02:36 Hamas: End Gaza raids or Shalit will become another Ron Arad 04:10 Study: Most Sderot kids exhibit post-traumatic stress symptoms 23:44 FM heads to Moscow for talks on Iran, Middle East peace talks 05:38 Widow: Archeologist kept tomb secret for fear of anti-Semitism 06:17 Ben-Eliezer: Yisrael Beiteinu exit lets us advance peace process 22:02 Amy Winehouse mulling album of 'cool' Hanukkah hits, producer says 00:50 Border police officer convicted of killing Palestinian in Jaffa 01:01 Ex-Minister Lieberman's daughter to be probed over suspected fraud 23:30 Hamas: Abbas calls Zahar over son's death, breaking boycott of group Previous Editions Select Day 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan

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