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Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (File)
Last update - 14:25 20/02/2008
Netanyahu: Olmert government taking measures to cede Jerusalem
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Netanyahyu, peace process 

Likud leader and chairman of the opposition MK Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the Olmert government is taking measures to divide Jerusalem, and urged the key Shas party to bolt the coalition and topple the government in order "to save Jerusalem."

Netanyahu was reacting to ongoing wrangling between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over Olmert's assertion that the sides had agreed to defer discussions over the status of Jerusalem to a future final phase of negotiations.

"This weak government is prepared to give away Jerusalem, and is acting in order to give it away," Netanyahu said. "All its denials and attempts at whitewashing will do no good."
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Officials of the ultra-Orthodox Shas have warned Olmert that they view negotiations over a future division of the city as a red line that would spur them to part ways with the ruling coalition.

Netanyahu said he believed Shas leaders' statements that they want to safeguard a Jerusalem united under Israeli rule. But he added, "Why are you still in the government? Why are you granting Olmert a carpet so that he can cede Jerusalem?"

Shas leaders "say they are waiting for a signed document. But in the current situation, we will not be able to recant. I repeat: Shas, what are you doing there? Get out of the government and save Jerusalem."

A senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said after Olmert-Abbas talks Tuesday that "The issue of Jerusalem did not come up in the discussion. I'm not aware of changes in the Israeli position."

But Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat disputed the claim, saying the leaders had discussed "all the core issues" and that Abbas and Olmert did in fact discuss the contentious topic of Jerusalem during their meeting earlier that evening.

Meanwhile, Abbas and Olmert agreed on Wednesday to expand their negotiations to topics beyond the "core issues" of borders, Jerusalem and the refugees: Within two weeks, teams will be set up to discuss at least seven other issues.

The two assigned the heads of the negotiating teams on the core issues - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia - the job of deciding exactly which issues the new task forces should begin discussing, and Livni hopes to reach an agreement with Qureia on this matter soon.

While the foreign minister would prefer the talks on the core issues to take place in maximum secrecy, the talks on the new issues will be conducted with far greater openness, which she hopes will attract media attention and thereby create a feeling of momentum in the negotiations.

One of the most important new issues on which Israel hopes to begin talks is the development of a "culture of peace," with an emphasis on ending incitement to terrorism.

Related articles:
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  • PM meets Abbas, but Jerusalem not on agenda
  • Israel still building in West Bank despite PM's pledge
  • ANALYSIS: When it comes to Jerusalem, both sides are right
  • Haaretz Editorial: Recognize Kosovo

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      1.   Jerusalem never belong to Palestine 12:43  |  Magnify 20/02/08
      2.   Poor Nethanyahoo 12:59  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/02/08
      3.   Jerusalem 13:03  |  Menchem 20/02/08
      4.   Ceding Jerusalem---and US too 13:19  |  Hilda 20/02/08
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      6.   Peres/Barak/Beilin/Olmert/* will divide Jerusalem 13:48  |  SD 20/02/08
      7.   Natellie Durson is a Jew hating Jew 13:51  |  Lionel Harkham 20/02/08
      8.   Yahoozy 13:59  |  l 20/02/08
      9.   New London Investigation 14:05  |  BigBadJohn 20/02/08
      10.   Nazillie Durson - Pals have a right of return to Jordan or 14:31  |  vf 20/02/08
      11.   Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel:!! 14:33  |  Stephen. 20/02/08
      12.   Leave the Government and save Israel 14:42  |  Paul 20/02/08
      13.   No rights to Arabs on Jerusalem 15:05  |  Jean Van Daem 20/02/08
      14.   To Chris Linthwaite 15:07  |  Oleg 20/02/08
      15.   To Natallie Durson 15:09  |  Oleg 20/02/08
      16.   This bird will not fly 15:20  |  Marc 20/02/08
      17.   To #2 Linthwraith: "The world`s response" ?! 15:38  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 20/02/08
      18.   Let`s Hope Bibi Is Right 15:53  |  Martin 20/02/08
      19.   #17 Ovadiah ben Avraham 16:15  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/02/08
      20.   #14 Oleg 16:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/02/08
      21.   Why the delay? 16:18  |  Patrick Walker 20/02/08
      22.   Marc_If You Live In Beit Shemesh I Also Assume 16:58  |  Eli 20/02/08
      23.   13. Jean van stupid in mosabique? 17:12  |  who are you? 20/02/08
      24.   Netanyahu is right on target 17:29  |  Brod 20/02/08
      25.   Jerusalem is already devided --to unite it needs eviction of non- 17:44  |  Sal 20/02/08
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      35.   The Right Thing 20:42  |  Jack Olson 20/02/08
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