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Likud Chairman and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu. (Limor Edri)
Last update - 21:49 13/04/2008
Netanyahu: Israel's government has no leadership or direction
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert 

Likud Chairman and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday accused the current government coalition of being "detached from reality" and devoid of leadership and direction.

"The government is detached from reality, security is faulty, the economy is receding and education is collapsing due to the absence of leadership and the absence of a path," Netanyahu told delegates at a conference in Tel Aviv's Likud center.

Netanyahu sharply criticized Israel's current government and its leader, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, saying that the government was immersed in a "cynical preoccupation with survival."
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According to Netanyahu, Olmert is on the verge of repeating former prime minister Ehud Barak's mistake of relinquishing everything to the Palestinians and getting terror in exchange. Netanyahu maintained that the topic being negotiated between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the Israeli negotiating team, and her Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qureia, was the eventual division of Jerusalem.

In a speech given by Netanyahu last week in Petah Tikva he addressed the issue of Jerusalem in the context of the peace talks with the Palestinians, saying "We don't need lessons from our opponents in the opposition on which important issues we must be vigilant about. No one can teach me or the Kadima ministers about the status, importance and symbolism of Israel's capital."

Netanyahu also addressed the economic situation facing Israel, saying "I am still in favor of helping those who are really in need. I'd like to add that I am still against helping impostors and those who are able to work but choose to be dependent on you. Today the state of Israel can and must use the fruits of the economic growth we have brought about to rehabilitate the Israeli society."

The Likud chairman went on to say that the government can and should increase the stipends granted to senior citizens by hundreds of shekels per month. "There is money in the coffers, we ensured that. So they call themselves socially motivated: I ask them, why haven't you increased the stipends?" Netanyahu accused the current government.

"We will also encourage women to join the workforce by classifying expenses surrounding child care as a tax write-off and by increasing the subsidies for day care centers for those women who don't qualify for tax breaks," he added.

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      1.   Divided Jerusalem?? 20:27  |  Joe 13/04/08
      2.   Netanyahu is 100% Correct, Olmert Is A Failure 20:43  |  Shepherd 13/04/08
      3.   Bibi is wrong again. The government does have direction 21:09  |  Natallie Durson 13/04/08
      4.   As if Netanyahu 21:28  |  Yonatan 13/04/08
      5.   If Israel wants better political leadership 21:29  |  Yonatan 13/04/08
      6.   If Israel wants better political leadership 21:32  |  Yonatan 13/04/08
      7.   #2 - Shepherd 21:42  |  Michael 13/04/08
      8.   True Is That Israel Has No Statemanship 22:00  |  Joseph . E 13/04/08
      9.   Netanyahu correct all Kadima`s Ideas are failures to the 22:07  |  Akram Zekaria 13/04/08
      10.   SHAS HAS A PLAN!!!!!! 22:14  |  Davi Bloom 13/04/08
      11.   Natalie, you`re giving them too much credit 22:19  |  Some Random Guy 13/04/08
      12.   Hey Yonatan! 22:21  |  Yechiel 13/04/08
      13.   Bibi is totally right and should be PM 22:28  |  Rachel Am Israel Hai 13/04/08
      14.   TO Joe JERUSALEM, THE UNDIVIDED CAPITAL OF ISRAEL 22:55  |  Jews 13/04/08
      15.   BIBI - NOT OLMERT....... 23:15  |  Dolly 13/04/08
      16.   To # 4 - Yonatan - Natanyahu is not the problem..... 23:24  |  Natasha 13/04/08
      17.   The Prophet Netanyahu 23:34  |  superjew 13/04/08
      18.   It is too True - Israel needs NEW LEADERSHIP 23:40  |  Pathfinder 13/04/08
      19.   I am very much encouraged by Shas leaders Benziri and Yishai 00:14  |  Israel Goldberg 14/04/08
      20.   Then Again... 00:23  |  ta 14/04/08
      21.   Israel is Racist 00:41  |  Jason O`Kelly 14/04/08
      22.   Make peace not war! 00:43  |  Franz 14/04/08
      23.   Netanyahoo will be a bigger disaster than Olmert 00:52  |  Joe 14/04/08
      24.   ...and Catholics were murderers Mr.O`Kelly 03:48  |  Anthony Fallon 14/04/08
      25.   Mr. Kelly, i didn`t even mention the anti Jewish pogroms......... 04:26  |  Anthony Fallon 14/04/08
      26.   The govt. has direction. Staying in power at any cost to Israel. 06:24  |  Chaim 14/04/08
      27.   This government has no direction. 06:47  |  Fortuna Benmayor 14/04/08
      28.   You made me laugh, Davi Bloom # 10 06:51  |  Fortuna Benmayor 14/04/08
      29.   Incorrect:most important policy:keeping bb out 07:30  |  Bob 14/04/08
      30.   O`Kelly; you`ve been drinking me Irish Crew Racist Scotch, you... 08:09  |  O`Reilly 14/04/08
      31.   BIBI FOR PRIME MINISTER!!!!! 08:34  |  Benji 14/04/08
      32.   To # 14 - Jews - Israel; Undivided - with OLMERT??? 08:34  |  Dagma 14/04/08
      33.   Same old Bibi... 08:40  |  Esther 14/04/08
      34.   It is all MANIPULATING .........by Olmert. 08:45  |  dingo dog 14/04/08
      35.   Re Bob #28... good for a laugh and concise wisdom... 08:54  |  Esther 14/04/08
      36.   Jason O`Kelly 08:57  |  Michael 14/04/08
      37.   Is this what Israel has on hand today....? 08:57  |  PLAYBOY 14/04/08
      38.   Shas... well, let`s think about it.... 09:05  |  Esther 14/04/08
      39.   You must be a `Palestinian`..... 11:50  |  arrabella 14/04/08
      40.   and yet another bibi boy ploy? 12:13  |  eric 14/04/08
      41.   The Other HALF of Israel`s Politics 12:25  |  Righteous One 14/04/08
      42.   To eric # 40 - `WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE`.....? 12:55  |  Rightiest One 14/04/08
      43.   To # 42 - Rightiest One - OLMERT`S CONTEMTIBLE CONDUCT 14:00  |  Immigrant 14/04/08
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