Region | Palestinian Territories
Olmert ally threatens to quit Israeli government
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition partner on Sunday renewed a threat to pull out of the government if Israel begins final-status talks on a Palestinian state.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:37 January 6, 2008
Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition partner on Sunday renewed a threat to pull out of the government if Israel begins final-status talks on a Palestinian state.
Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he would pull his right-wing party out of Olmert's coalition government if negotiating teams begin talks on borders.
"Any start of negotiations on the core issues ... any attempt or removal of settlements or outposts, as far as we are concerned, will force us to quit immediately," Lieberman told Israel Radio.
The renewed threat came ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit this week to Israel and the occupied West Bank in which he will push for Middle East peace.
"I hope that reason will prevail," he said. "We are not looking for a reason to quit. We want to be a part of the actions of the government."
Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party has 11 members in Israel's parliament and is the fourth largest party in Olmert's coalition government.
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