Israeli Party Threatens to Quit Gov't over Jerusalem give away
Pastor Dale Morgan
Israeli Party Threatens to Quit Gov't over Jerusalem give away*
By LAURIE COPANS
The Associated Press
Sunday, October 28, 2007; 2:39 AM
JERUSALEM -- A key partner in the coalition of Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert warned Sunday that he would withdraw from the government if
an upcoming Israeli-Palestinian meeting includes negotiations on core
issues of the conflict.
The threat by Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman limits Olmert's
ability to maneuver in the talks with the Palestinians, which have been
renewed in recent months after seven years of fighting. A withdrawal of
Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu Party from the coalition would weaken Olmert
politically.
The Palestinians are demanding that the U.S.-sponsored conference to be
held by the end of the year include talks on the major hurdles
preventing a final peace agreement, including the fate of Jerusalem,
Palestinian refugees and the borders of a Palestinian state.
While Lieberman's threat was not new, he has been making it more leading
up to the meeting.
"We won't remain partners in the government if there will be significant
negotiations on the core subjects," Lieberman told Army Radio.
Any agreement with the Palestinians must not include a concession by
Israel on its control over Jerusalem's disputed holy sites nor a
symbolic return of Palestinian refugees, Lieberman said. A confidant of
Olmert, Vice Premier Haim Ramon, has hinted that he has discussed such
Israeli offers in talks with the Palestinians.
Lieberman said he is also opposed to a connection between the West Bank
and Gaza Strip over Israel, which Israel has reportedly offered in the
talks.
The Palestinians insist they be able to establish a capital of a future
state in east Jerusalem, where the holy sites of both sides are located.
Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed
it, calling the entire city its capital.
The Palestinians also want hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled or
were displaced by fighting that led to Israel's establishment in 1948,
and their descendants, to be able to return to their former homes.
Palestinian negotiators have reportedly agreed to exchange West Bank
territory they want for a state _ where Jewish settlement blocs are
located _ for Israeli land that would connect between the Gaza Strip and
West Bank.
Negotiators were slated later this week to meet ahead of a visit in
early November to the region by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.