Israel Matzav

Netanyahu's coalition to be a sacrifice for peace?

There are signs that Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition may be on its way to becoming a 'sacrifice for peace.' The first sign is this video of MK's supporting residents and construction in the Jordan Valley.

Let's go to the videotape.



Meanwhile, a group called the Rabbinical Congress for Peace is urging ministers to prepare resignation letters rather than agreeing to give up land for a piece of paper.

RCP rabbis warned Tourism Minister Uzi Landau and Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir that they sense a complacency similar that prior to the "Disengagement" from Gush Katif.

"It’s not enough to verbally oppose the current negotiations or vote against it, but you and all those ministers and coalition members who share your views must announce that you have submitted a letter of resignation from the government that will take effect the moment  the government agrees to territorial concessions," pressed the RCP rabbis.

“I have no doubt that once (Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu) will feel that he is losing support of his right wing flank it will deter him," reasoned Rabbi Avrohom Shmuel Lewin, Executive Director of RCP. "He won’t want to form a more left-wing coalition now especially when the nation is furious over his release of arch-terrorists. Stop this madness now.”

...

The ministers tried to justify staying in the coalition saying they can "minimize damage" from within, whereas leftist parties could replace them if they left.

RCP Chairman Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky shot down their argument, saying "every bad thing can ister Ofir Akunis be worse. Would you remain in the government if you know it is ready to give up half of Eretz Israel out of fear that if you leave they will give up all of Eretz Israel?"

"There must be a red line that will prevent you from being part of a government that leads to bloodshed G-d forbid," added Rabbi Gerlitzky. "What are you waiting for? That the Arabs should control the1967 borders and then you’ll leave?! Won’t you find an excuse then to also say 'if we leave it will be worse?'"

This sounds remarkably like the lead-up to Gush Katif where everyone stayed in the government until after the expulsion had been approved.

All of which leads Netanyahu confidante and deputy minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) to warn that there may be 'changes' to the coalition.

"The main problem threatening coalition unity is Kerry," claimed Akunis. "The problem is only growing amid a one-sided agreement, which harms the coalition's existence in its current formation, even after concessions Israel would make."

Were the coalition to break apart, Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri has said just this Thursday that his party would not step in as a "safety net" to form a new coalition, enabling territorial withdrawals. Meanwhile a Rabbinical Congress for Peace delegation met Knesset ministers Wednesday, urging them to threaten resignation and a collapse of the coalition to thwart Israeli concessions.

Akunis reports that Kerry's proposed deal "expresses an assertive American position." His comments come as Kerry is set to launch a January diplomatic "offensive" to force Israeli concessions.

"For whatever reason (US President) Barack Obama and Kerry don't understand that precisely things done under the strongest American pressure, such as releasing murderers and ceding the (Jordan) Valley, leads to the exact opposite results of what was expected by the State Department," declared Akunis.

Akunis stressed that there is a wide Israeli consensus concerning the strategic necessity of maintaining a Jordan Valley presence.

Despite this, "the Americans are doing the exact opposite and hitting the most sensitive points of the Israeli public," warned Akunis. "It's a lack of understanding regarding Israeli society, and as I said, it puts the current coalition formation in danger."

 If Akunis is right, why is Netanyahu allowing this to continue?

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Gaza expulsion, Gush Katif, John Kerry, Jordan Valley, Ofir Akunis, Uzi Landau

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:50 PM