Israel Matzav

Yisrael Beiteinu quits the government

It's about time!

"I want to thank Ehud Olmert for his candor, we have always been open with one another," Lieberman [pictured, top left. CiJ] said. "It was obvious that we would not agree on fundamental issues."

Approximately a week before [the] Annapolis [conference] we put out a document [with our] red lines. We delineated in the clearest possible fashion what we are willing to abide with and what we cannot [accept]. A fortnight before Annapolis, I met with Olmert in his home and reiterated our red lines."

Core issues are a critical point for Israel Beiteinu, which does not believe that the territories and the outposts are the source of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Lieberman said. "Any negotiation on the basis of land for peace is a ridiculous mistake."

"The prime minister received [Lieberman's] resignation," the Prime Minister's Office announced in a statement. "The prime minister wants to thank minister Lieberman for his service to the government and his contribution to a series of steps the government took in partnership with him on socioeconomic and security issues."

"The prime minister told him time and time again that there is no alternative to serious diplomatic negotiations in an effort to achieve peace. This is the task of the hour and a national responsibility.

"Every concession that the government makes will be conditional on maintaining Israeli security. The government's diplomatic steps unfortunately led to disagreements with Lieberman and his party. The prime minister is determined to continue diplomatic negotiations because he recognizes that this is the only real chance to guarantee peace and security for the citizens of Israel."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition appeared to be crumbling on Tuesday when Lieberman held an ill-fated meeting with Olmert and Shas warned that it could leave soon, as well.

The coalition is now down to 67 out of 120, with Meretz (five MK's) announcing last night that it would give the government a 'safety net' for 'negotiations' with the 'Palestinians.'

With Yisrael Beiteinu gone, I don't expect Shas to last very long either:

Aware that Shas would soon be the only right-leaning member of the government, the party's mentor, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, issued a directive Tuesday for it to leave the coalition as soon as serious negotiations begin on the fate of Jerusalem.

Previously, Shas had said they would only quit the coalition if a deal were reached on the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. But Yosef upgraded the threat Tuesday and said that raising the Jerusalem issue with the Palestinians in a serious manner was reason enough to leave.

Shas chairman Eli Yishai, currently visiting China, informed Lieberman of the rabbi's new instructions in a phone call. Lieberman did not tell Yishai whether or not he would resign from the government.

Let's hope Shas leaves soon, because Olmert is determined to give everything away:

In his meeting with Olmert, Lieberman did not receive the reassurances he had hoped for that the talks with the Palestinians were not serious. Olmert said he intended to pursue a deal on every issue, including the most controversial.

"There was no give and take in the meeting," a source close to Olmert said when asked if the prime minister tried to convince Lieberman to stay. "He told Lieberman he would negotiate seriously on all the issues necessary to reach an agreement."

Asked about the change in Shas's position, the source close to Olmert said the prime minister "had not received such an ultimatum."

The problem is that even if Shas leaves, the coalition will be left with 55 MK's. Add those five from Meretz and you come to exactly 60. Would Olmert cut a deal with a 60-60 tie and the speaker - Dalia Itzik from his own party - casting the deciding vote. You bet he would. Recall that Yitzchak Rabin signed Oslo II on a 61-59 vote where two of the MK's had been bribed.

But here's the most surprising thing of all.

Israel Radio reported Tuesday that US President George W. Bush told Lieberman at Thursday's dinner at Olmert's residence that he wouldn't let a Palestinian state be formed while he was president, because it would endanger Israel's security. According to the report, Bush told Lieberman that it would endanger Israel's security if a Palestinian state was created before all of the stages of the road map were implemented.

I don't believe it and I don't believe Bush can stop it if Olmert decides he wants to do it. Don't let anyone tell you that the Americans are forcing Olmert to take the actions that he is taking. Pinocchio doesn't need anyone's help in telling him how to lie.

As Yogi used to say, it ain't over 'til it's over.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:58 AM