Post by Paddy by Grace on Feb 21, 2009 19:18:59 GMT -7
www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=9630
Lieberman is no right winger
By Ted Belman
The media has been misrepresenting reality in describing Lieberman as a right-winger, at least insofar as the creation of Palestine is concerned. Meretz (3), Labour (12) and Kadima (28) all favour giving up land, most of it, to achieve peace and maintain Israel as a Jewish state. Israel Beiteinu (15) goes one further and wants to give up even more land to rid Israel of much of its Arab Israelis. Together they total 58 seats to 50 for the right wing block. But Lieberman is right wing on fighting Arabs both in Israel and in the territories while also being anti-religious.
Today we learned that Livni Ready to Meet Most of Lieberman’s Demands which include
- The extension of Daniel Friedmann’s term as Justice Minister.
- Civil marriage between partners forbidden to marry under Jewish law.
- Making the toppling of the Hamas regime in Gaza a national goal.
- Easing the conversion process.
- Making citizenship dependent on loyalty to the country and demanding that all Israelis perform some form of national service.
-A senior government ministry.
According to Vice Premier Chaim Ramon of Kadima,
“Almost ninety percent of Yisrael Beiteinu’s positions as written in the document [sent by Lieberman] match our own.” Kadima believes that all young Israelis should take part in national service, he said
The only point not yet agreed to is the one linking a loyalty oath with citizenship. Now Livni has agreed to topple Hamas. Where was she when it mattered most. She preferred the diplomatic exit strategy.
The same list has been given to Netanyahu. Civil marriage and easier conversions are his sticking points because the religious parties will fight against such change. Netanyahu is hard a work finessing the split. The religious parties recognize no matter who forms the government that these issues will be legislated . They figure they can blunt them more by giving enough to get Lieberman in Likud’s government while at the same time being paid off for being flexible.
While Netanyahu hasn’t ruled out a Palestinian state to the disappointment of many on the right, he has ruled out a sovereign Palestinian state. He intends to maintain a presence on the Jordan River, keep the Arabs demilitarized and to control all the airspace. Under such an arrangement there will be no need to uproot anybody.
Netanyahu said again yesterday that he will attempt a broader coalition with Kadima added to his right wing government. Livni has already agreed to Lieberman’s demands thus the only thing she has to accept is that the Netanyahu government will pursue economic development rather than a peace deal. She shouldn’t have trouble with this. She will also have to accept more building in the settlements.
If she doesn’t agree to all this, Mofaz and 8 or more Kadima mandates will bolt Kadima and join Netanyahu. That would be the best.
A large coalition is needed to deal with Iran immediately.
Lieberman is no right winger
By Ted Belman
The media has been misrepresenting reality in describing Lieberman as a right-winger, at least insofar as the creation of Palestine is concerned. Meretz (3), Labour (12) and Kadima (28) all favour giving up land, most of it, to achieve peace and maintain Israel as a Jewish state. Israel Beiteinu (15) goes one further and wants to give up even more land to rid Israel of much of its Arab Israelis. Together they total 58 seats to 50 for the right wing block. But Lieberman is right wing on fighting Arabs both in Israel and in the territories while also being anti-religious.
Today we learned that Livni Ready to Meet Most of Lieberman’s Demands which include
- The extension of Daniel Friedmann’s term as Justice Minister.
- Civil marriage between partners forbidden to marry under Jewish law.
- Making the toppling of the Hamas regime in Gaza a national goal.
- Easing the conversion process.
- Making citizenship dependent on loyalty to the country and demanding that all Israelis perform some form of national service.
-A senior government ministry.
According to Vice Premier Chaim Ramon of Kadima,
“Almost ninety percent of Yisrael Beiteinu’s positions as written in the document [sent by Lieberman] match our own.” Kadima believes that all young Israelis should take part in national service, he said
The only point not yet agreed to is the one linking a loyalty oath with citizenship. Now Livni has agreed to topple Hamas. Where was she when it mattered most. She preferred the diplomatic exit strategy.
The same list has been given to Netanyahu. Civil marriage and easier conversions are his sticking points because the religious parties will fight against such change. Netanyahu is hard a work finessing the split. The religious parties recognize no matter who forms the government that these issues will be legislated . They figure they can blunt them more by giving enough to get Lieberman in Likud’s government while at the same time being paid off for being flexible.
While Netanyahu hasn’t ruled out a Palestinian state to the disappointment of many on the right, he has ruled out a sovereign Palestinian state. He intends to maintain a presence on the Jordan River, keep the Arabs demilitarized and to control all the airspace. Under such an arrangement there will be no need to uproot anybody.
Netanyahu said again yesterday that he will attempt a broader coalition with Kadima added to his right wing government. Livni has already agreed to Lieberman’s demands thus the only thing she has to accept is that the Netanyahu government will pursue economic development rather than a peace deal. She shouldn’t have trouble with this. She will also have to accept more building in the settlements.
If she doesn’t agree to all this, Mofaz and 8 or more Kadima mandates will bolt Kadima and join Netanyahu. That would be the best.
A large coalition is needed to deal with Iran immediately.