Kadima MK: We must support PM on natural growth
Opposition MK Otniel Schneller tells Ynet he demands his party back Netanyahu in 'struggle with the Americans and the world over the matter of natural growth in settlements'; says Kadima at risk of 'losing identity' over matter
Ahead of Defense Minister Ehud Barak's visit to Washington next week, senior political sources have said that Israel will have to change its tune with regard to the problem of 'natural growth' in settlements.
So far, Israel has refused to adhere to US demands to freeze construction in settlements, and on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got an unexpected boost of support from the opposition.
Kadima MK Otniel Schneller, who is considered one of the Knesset and political establishment's experts on settlements and future borders to be determined in an agreement with the Palestinians, told Ynet that he demands that his party's chairperson and faction members support what he called: "The government's struggle with the Americans and the world over the matter of natural growth."
The MK continued to say, "If the Americans see that the Israeli society can be divided over the problem of natural growth, Kadima will lose its identity…Kadima is not a leftist party.
"If we want to be relevant, we must support the government in this matter. We cannot accept the American interpretation or (former Prime Minister) Ehud Olmert's interpretation in the matter of settlements or regarding the division of Jerusalem."
'Kadima division shoult not be ruled out'
Senior Kadima sources said most of the faction's members support settlement expansion to accommodate natural growth; however, the party is yet to declare an official stance on the subject.During the week, Kadima's political committee, headed by Tzipi Livni, convened and its members presented their positions on negotiations with the Palestinians, but no single policy to represent the party was adopted.
Earlier, former Minister Shaul Mofaz, who has been pushing the party to join the government, presented a political plan calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state in temporary borders.
Mofaz said that if Netanyahu accepts this plan, Kadima should join the government and become a part of it. So far, there is not a significant group of Kadima members calling for the party to join the government, but there are constant talks on the matter behind the scenes, lead mainly by Mofaz.
Top Kadima sources that have not yet called for the party to join the government, said that if the party "is pulled to the left", and does not support the continued natural growth in settlements, the possibility that they party may become divided should not be ruled out.
A Kadima source told Ynet, "If Livni says: 'I will not give support in any matter', then the party will be divided into two groups – one that wants to support the government and even join it, and another that opposes this government's every move."
The source went on to say, "The issue now is not political, but national – and the connection the Americans made between Iran and the settlements is real and should be taken seriously. In the coming week significant moves are expected to take place in the political arena and Kadima must be responsible and consider its steps."
