Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not up for negotiation
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent 27 October 2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031857.html

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday, at the opening of the
Knesset's winter session, that Israel must not negotiate over the division
of Jerusalem or the absorption of Palestinian refugees.

Netanyahu, who in the last two years has been the clear front-runner in
polls which asked prospective voters their choice for prime minister, spoke
just after President Shimon Peres announced that Israel was headed for early
election.

Netanyahu told Knesset that if he becomes prime minister, he will seek peace
with the surrounding Arab countries, but said Israel must not give up Golan
Heights, large parts of the West Bank or any of Jerusalem.

Peres, formally setting into motion procedures for a national ballot, told
the Knesset after consultations with political parties that there was no
chance of reaching a deal now to form a new coalition government.

"This is the time for Israel's Knesset and political system to do some deep
soul-searching," he urged lawmakers. "It is never too late to fix mistakes."

Following Peres' announcement, Knesset has up to three weeks to dissolve
itself and set an election date, widely expected to be scheduled for January
or February.

"In the coming days, Israel will be entering into a decisive electoral
period. This is the first and immediate test set before you - the choice of
the people," he said.

As the polticial system enters these elections, said the president,
lawmakers must remain focus on Israel's strength in the face of its enemies.
"Israel must stand strong and if sentenced to fight, must be able to be
victorious over every enemy that comes our way," he said.

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in his remarks to the Knesset, just
after Peres' announcement, that he appreciated Livni's efforts to form a
coalition and regretted the political circumstances that had made it
impossible.

He added that he intended to remain committed as premier until the elections
and to carry it out "with the same responsibility, care and professionalism
with which I have acted until now."

Shas chief brands Livni allies 'racist, phony, condescending'

In an unprecedented attack on Kadima leader Tzipi Livni's team in coalition
talks, Eli Yishai, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Sephardi Shas party,
Monday branded the members of the team "phony, racist and condescending."

Yishai was speaking to his party faction ahead of the Monday afternoon
opening of the Knesset's winter session, likely to be cut short by the early
elections.

The Shas leader's remarks came in response to Kadima official's
characterization of the ultra-Orthodox party's demands as "extortion."

"It's interesting that they didn't call the Labor Party, which received NIS
1.5 billion under the coalition agreement,m extortionists," Yishai told the
Shas MKs.

"We are speaking here of racism and condescension."

Yishai went on to voice thanks to Kadima, saying that its actions would only
expand Shas' Knesset strength in the coming election.

"If he who helps ailing children is called an extortionist, then I am an
extortionist," Yishai said, adding that the Kadima attacks would "boomerang
on the attackers."