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Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu (Limor Edrey) Last update - 21:59 22/05/2008 Netanyahu: Golan pullout would put Iran on Israel's doorstep By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert, Syria  Opposition leader and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu warned Thursday that a withdrawal from the Golan Heights would put Israel on Iran's front lines. Netanyahu convened the Likud for a special party session in Tel Aviv, in light of Syria's declaration that Israel has committed to pull out of the Golan Heights and return to the 1967 borders as part of its renewed negotiations for peace. "Giving of the Golan Heights will turn the Golan into Iran's front lines which will threaten the whole state of Israel," Netanyahu told party members. Advertisement "If the words of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem are correct, Mr. Olmert has committed to pull back from the Golan up to the shores of Lake Galilee, even before negotiations have begun. Indeed, this would mean unprecedented anarchy of politics and defense," he added. "This irresponsibility can be added to the failed conduct of the Second Lebanon War, the failure to prevent Hezbollah's new and heightened rearmament, the failure to prevent Qassam fire on southern Israel. We must not let the Kadima government continue its chain of failures," he said. On Wednesday night, hours after news of the renewed indirect negotiations broke, the Syrian foreign minister said Israel had committeed to return to its 1967 borders as part of peace negotiations. Syrian Information Minister Muhsin Bilal then told Al Jazeera television on Thursday that Damascus had received guarantees from Israel via Turkey for a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights and rejected conditions put forth for concluding a peace deal. In his address to Likud members, Netanyahu accused Olmert of using the renewed negotiations with Syria as a pretext for diverting attention from the criminal investigation in which is currently mired. He called on party members and all government factions to demand fresh elections to replace Olmert. "Today there is a wide agreement between left and right that the political process cannot serve as a refuge for politicians in crisis. The majority of the public understands that Olmert is up to his neck in these investigations," Netanyahu said. "Olmert has no moral or public mandate to administrate fateful negotiations on the future of the State of Israel because there is a real concern that he would put his own personal survival over national interests," the opposition leader added. Related articles: Olmert: Israel and Syria both know what they need to do for peace Olmert to Haaretz: Syria contacts are 'historic breakthrough' Poll: More Israelis object to Golan accord than to Jerusalem deal Golan regional head: Olmert endangering Israel's existence Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the VIP If you want Olmert, pay for 'first class' hotels and flights. Don't mention the war The first to mention Nazis or the Holocaust automatically loses.   1.   boobie bibi is right this time. 19:07  |  frenz 22/05/08   2.   Why Would 19:33  |  Fred 22/05/08   3.   BIBI for PM - we`ll vote for you 19:38  |  RW 22/05/08   4.   ANOTHER 11/9 IS NEEDED, ISN`T IT, BIBI? 19:48  |  indrajaya 22/05/08   5.   Syria a vassal of Iran. 19:51  |  Jean Van Daem 22/05/08   6.   No, it wouldn`t because there would be peace 19:53  |  Israeli 22/05/08   7.   THROW OLMERT OUT NOW BEFORE HE DESTROYS ISRAEL 19:57  |  THE WARRIOR 22/05/08   8.   Not pulling from the Golan would put Israel on Iran`s front lines 20:07  |  Aounist 22/05/08   9.   War is all Bi Bi wants 20:07  |  Greg 22/05/08   10.   No 5 Israeli, REALLY? 20:08  |  Superjew 22/05/08   11.   Livni agrees 20:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/05/08   12.   Netin would say anything to.. 20:09  |  bashar 22/05/08   13.   Besides that Fact Golan Doesn`t belong to Israel 20:09  |  Concerned individual 22/05/08   14.   i am extreme right 20:09  |  darcy 22/05/08   15.   didn`t netanyahu offer the golan to syria once upon a time? 20:13  |  johnj 22/05/08   16.   Bibi, come lately. Finally he has awoken..Too late. 20:26  |  Stephen. 22/05/08   17.   #6 Israeli Dreamer....no peace just more rockets and artillery 20:28  |  The Equalizer 22/05/08   18.   Netanyahoo nutcase... 20:29  |  John 22/05/08   19.   Golan pullout would put Israel on Iran`s front lines 20:34  |  Daoud 22/05/08   20.   I like Netanyahu, He is honest 20:41  |  Robert/Montreal 22/05/08   21.   The moron needs a globe 20:56  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/08   22.   To # 6 What do you base you premise on 21:05  |  Harry 22/05/08   23.   Only Bibi. Only Likud. Sephardim: Come Home to Likud! 21:07  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/05/08   24.   BIBI IS RIGHT! Olmert is utterly wrong. 21:10  |  The Threadmill 22/05/08   25.   #6 21:12  |  Malone 22/05/08   26.   Israel dont kid yourself 21:21  |  ZAIN 22/05/08   27.   America is pressurizing Olmert 21:23  |  Dani Miller 22/05/08   28.   indrajya, I am happpy to see you irritated 21:27  |  Bibi 22/05/08   29.   Better listen to this man... 21:35  |  Webster 22/05/08   30.   Haaretz Quote " Unprecedented Anarchy of Politics and Defense" 21:48  |  Joseph . E 22/05/08   31.   News Flash for you, Bibi ya habeebi... 21:48  |  Jimmy 22/05/08   32.   israeli #6 22:00  |  northern neighbor 22/05/08   33.   I believe Netanyahu is right 22:01  |  KUTW 22/05/08   34.   I really like Netenyahu! Olmert is diverting from his trial 22:05  |  KahanewasrighttimesX 22/05/08   35.   Mark Lincoln 22:05  |  Ramius 22/05/08   36.   Mr , Yes MR Netanyahu, come for shabbat dinner 22:14  |  Robert/Montreal 22/05/08   37.   Northern Neighbor 22:15  |  Ramius 22/05/08   38.   John my Fellow Canuck #14 Never gonna happen 22:17  |  Robert/Montreal 22/05/08   39.   THIS MAN 22:22  |  Jack 22/05/08   40.   #29 Yussel 22:43  |  Ramius 22/05/08   41.   Israel should give Golan back to Syria 22:58  |  Chaim Gorenstein 22/05/08   42.   Dear Greg 23:11  |  Mark 22/05/08   43.   give it back 23:44  |  cgc 22/05/08   44.   Olmert Please Retire 23:57  |  Steve 22/05/08   45.   Israeli problems 00:01  |  Steve 23/05/08   46.   cgc - stolen lands? 00:14  |  ChanahS 23/05/08   47.   Why, Why, Why..... 00:44  |  leo 23/05/08   48.   GOLAN ALREADY ANNEXED BY ISRAEL- END OF STORY ? 00:49  |  Bill 23/05/08   49.   No 6 Israeli, Right on! 02:41  |  Palestinian 23/05/08   50.   Syrian Minister confirms that Netanyahu is right 02:58  |  Realist 23/05/08   51.   #13 concerned individual 04:27  |  Moshe 23/05/08   52.   Failure in Georgraphy 101 05:44  |  carlos 23/05/08   53.   what is this guy talking about???????????? 20:18  |  me that`s who 23/05/08   54.   intelligent Olmert won`t ever give Golan neither will theIDF EVER 01:30  |  Marco 24/05/08   55.   # 13 05:17  |  Maurice 24/05/08   56.   Natanyahu a hate monger 03:50  |  gus 31/05/08

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