Orlev - Olmert overtaking from the left
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Yishai - Even Rabin wouldn't cede Jerusalem
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Right incensed by Olmert speech, Left applauds it as 'historic'
Prime minister's surprising call for land concessions in Jerusalem in peace negotiations at state memorial service for Yitzhak Rabin draws sharp criticism from Right, praise from Left. 'Rabin is turning in his grave,' says MK Orlev
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's call for Israel to cede the Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem has sent shock waves through the political ranks.
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MK Zevulun Orlev (National Union – NRP) slammed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's speech at the state memorial service for late-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Olmert called for Israel to cede the Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
"Rabin is turning in his grave now that Olmert has overtaken him from the left," said Orlev, adding that the silence of Kadima's top officials in light of Olmert's words makes them complicit.
Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai, was also quick to condemn Olmert. "It's a shame that there are those who in the name of commemorating Rabin seek to design illegitimate policies. Once again we glimpse a sliver of the hidden agenda of those who would harm Jerusalem.
"When (former US President) Bill Clinton visited the Knesset, Rabin, may he rest in peace, said that
Jerusalem was non-negotiable," the Shas chairman added.
MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) said the only thing to be ceded was Olmert as prime minister, "who, in order to make us forget his failures and the investigations against him is willing to attack the capital of Israel and sell out on every value important to Judaism, even though this policy of surrender has only brought more victims."
The left-wing 'Peace Now' movement however, hailed the prime minister's speech as "historic."
Amnon Meranda, Roni Sofer and Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
