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International News Title: Israeli Government At Risk Of Collapse * News * World news * Israel Israel's coalition government threatened by walk out Labor party will walk out of Israel's coalition government unless negotiations with the Palestinians get under way * Tweet this * * Reddit * Buzz up * Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem * guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 October 2010 17.04 GMT Avishay Braverman Avishay Braverman says Labour party will walk out of Israels coalition government unless Palestinian negotiations get under way. Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP Israel's Labor party will walk out of the rightwing-dominated coalition government unless serious negotiations with the Palestinians get under way in the coming weeks, according to cabinet minister Avishay Braverman, an expected challenger to Ehud Barak for his party's leadership. "We need to move as soon as possible. The only way to guarantee the state of the Jewish people is to move boldly after the US election," Braverman, the minister for minorities, said in an interview. If Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu missed the opportunity, "Labor will not be in the coalition government. If there are the beginnings of serious negotiations, Labor stays; if not, Labor leaves." He also urged Barack Obama to apply himself to the issue of a Middle East peace settlement with renewed determination following Tuesday's midterm election. "The world needs a strong president of the US," he said. Labor's departure from Netanyahu's government could trigger its collapse unless the centre-right Kadima party could be persuaded to join. But Kadima has said it would not enter a coalition which included the rightwing Yisrael Beiteinu party led by foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman. "Netanyahu has to make a very tough choice, but leadership is about tough choices, making tough decisions," said Braverman. "For Netanyahu the game is now. He has to choose between sustaining political equilibrium to survive, or changing it to make history
It's an act of bravery." Braverman said he had proposed, to both Netanyahu and Barak, an extension to the freeze on settlement construction for a further four to five months to give time for negotiations. The basis of talks should be the 2002 Arab peace initiative, he said - principally: Accepting the 1967 borders with land swaps to compensate for Israel retaining the major settlement blocs in the West Bank. Residents of settlements that would become part of Palestine would get full compensation to relocate, and "for a few thousand zealots, we'd have to apply the law". Agreement on Palestinian refugees with the "total consent" of Israel and Palestine. "There would be some union of families but it won't alter the equilibrium." Jerusalem: "it can be solved," he said without offering details. A deal on this basis would result in "normalisation with the Arab countries and an end to the conflict." The aim was a state of the Jewish people, with equality for all its people, and ensuring a Jewish majority for "hundreds of years". Netanyahu, he said, "intellectually understands everything" but must stop appeasing Lieberman, who was harming Israel's reputation in the world and damaging the state. "I don't know a country in the world where the foreign minister speaks against [government policy]. He should not be in the government." Braverman declined to confirm that he would challenge Barak for the leadership of the Labor party next year, although his name has been widely touted. But he criticised his party, which has haemorrhaged support in recent years, saying it was in the "worst position ever" and needed strong leadership and fundamental change. "My belief is that the Labor party should not any more be the party of marginal changes
I believe in creating a party of major changes or it will become irrelevant. It can be transformed." It must be a party of the centre, he said. Fellow minister Isaac Herzog has already declared he intends to challenge Barak for the Labour leadership, and there are likely to be other candidates. Braverman reiterated his opposition to Netanyahu's proposal that new citizens of Israel should swear a "loyalty oath" to Israel as a Jewish state, describing it as "stupid suggestion." It was meaningless, he said. "Why raise this issue? To antagonise Arabs, to appease Lieberman."
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
This should be breaking news at dum4um for faggots.
This prospect certainly warms the cockles of my heart, indeed.
#3. To: Brian S (#2)
You stupid, ass-kissing muslims will gain nothing!
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