MK Orlev: Israel facing liquidation sale

Rightists slam joint declaration in Annapolis. National Union-NRP chairman calls on Shas, Lieberman to quit government. Beilin: Coalition will hinder peace efforts

Amnon Meranda
Published: 11.27.07, 21:47 / Israel News

Right-wing Knesset member Zevulun Orlev called on Shas chairman Eli Yishai and Yisrael Beitenu head Avigdor Lieberman to resign from the ruling coalition immediately, as they have "run out of excuses" following Tuesday's joint Israeli-Palestinian declaration at the Annapolis summit.

Joint Declaration

Israelis, Palestinians agree to launch peace talks / Yitzhak Benhorin

US President George Bush tells Annapolis conference delegates Israel and the Palestinians agreed to immediately launch 'good faith' negotiations to achieve a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including core issues. Olmert says, 'Reality formed in 1967 will change.' Abbas: We need East Jerusalem to be our capital

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"The things that were said at the conference are worrying and prove that the State of Israel is facing a liquidation sale,' the National Union-NRP chairman said.

Yishai, for his part, made it clear that in any case the division of Jerusalem would not be put on the table.

"Until now the Palestinian leadership has failed to implement the first phase of the Road Map – the dismantling of terror organizations," he said.

"I support peace with a real partner, but now we are dealing with a virtual one."

Likud Knesset Member Silvan Shalom also criticized the declaration, saying "the idea that we could reach a permanent agreement within a year is a sad joke. Does anyone believe (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas will accept the conditions that Yasser Arafat rejected? He will act just like Arafat – he won't budge."

Knesset Member David Rotem of Yisrael Beitenu said "the red lines are clear," adding that Israel would not agree to proceed towards a permanent agreement "unless Palestinian terror is eradicated."

Full coverage of the Annapolis peace summit

According to Rotem, there will be no compromise on the issue of Jerusalem and any other deal will only include a land and population swap in Arab neighborhoods on the outskirts of the capital.

MKs at the left end of the political spectrum praised the joint declaration, but said that its real test still lied ahead.

"The three leaders (US President Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas) said all the right things, but the true test is ahead of us," Avshalom Vilan of Meretz said.

Yossi Beilin, the party's chairman, said "the prime minister didn't make things easy for himself. If he really means everything he said, his coalition will be a burden on any attempt to advance towards peace.

"As long as the coalition of Yishai and Lieberman exists, Olmert's intentions cannot be treated seriously," he said.

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