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Netanyahu: I acted on behalf of Israel, not at its cost By Mazal Mualem Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday rebuffed accusations of exorbitant spending during a 2006 visit to London, claiming he made the trip on Israel's behalf and that his personal expenses were covered by his own money. In his first public response to the claims since they were first reported by Channel 10 on Friday, Netanyahu told fellow Likud members who had assembled at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Ashkelon that criticism of him was politically-motivated. Advertisement "I acted on behalf of the country, and not at its expense, and still my wife and I are being slandered and incessantly attacked," Netanyahu said. "These attacks will increase as we approach elections. My suggestion is to stay calm." The U.K. visit, undertaken during the Second Lebanon War to advocate Israel's cause, was funded by private donations and cost NIS 131,000. During yesterday's morning hours, Netanyahu and his aides deliberated how to respond to the report. Initially, they decided to call a press conference at Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv, but then opted to make an announcement at the already scheduled Likud secretariat meeting in Ashkelon. Netanyahu's speech opened with a critique of the government's inability to put a stop to Palestinian militants from Gaza firing Grad rockets at Ashkelon. "Our opponents' intention to prevent the reelection of the Likud is clear. But the people are smarter, and the Likud is stronger [to avoid such a thing happening]" he said. Netanyahu refused to answer reporters' questions following his speech. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Facebook face-off Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine. Shin Bet.com The covert agency has deployed a new weapon: the blog.

Today Online Rightists arrested for storming village of yeshiva terrorist Responses: 168 Next IAF chief: Ground operation needed to stop rocket attacks Responses: 127 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab W. Bank lands Responses: 109 Facebook face-off: Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine Responses: 47 Editorial: U.S. pressure for peace is welcome pressure Responses: 61 More Headlines 00:27 Survey: Haniyeh more popular than Abbas in PA 22:27 PA downgrades renewed talks to protest settlement construction 21:13 PM: No chance Israel will cede E. Jerusalem areas like Har Homa 21:27 Israel approves lawsuits against PA over suicide bombings 18:19 Facebook face-off: Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine 19:00 'This post will self-destruct in 10 seconds' - Shin Bet blog goes live 22:01 Argentine Jews commemorate 1992 Israeli embassy bombing 22:40 MKs seek pardon for Omri Sharon 'to sit at father's bedside' 15:40 Olmert accompanies Merkel to Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial 01:21 Mazuz weighs indicting judge for fraud and breach of trust 21:03 Jordanian Islamists: Merkel runs risk of igniting `enmity` of Arabs 15:52 Tel Aviv stock exchange loses 9% of its value in 3 trading days 21:25 Arab MK to chief rabbis: Slam rabbinic calls to harm Arabs Previous Editions Select Day 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar

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