Israel right-wing party pulls out of gov´t

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-17-2008 09:01

A hawkish faction has pulled out of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's governing coalition.

Avigdor Lieberman, Leader of Yisrael Beiteinu Party. (CCTV.com)

It weakens him at a time when he needs broad support to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians by the end of the year.

Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman pulled his 11-member Yisrael Beiteinu Party faction out of Ehud Olmert's government. His decision is prompted by some key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Avigdor Lieberman, Leader of Yisrael Beiteinu Party, said, "For me, land for peace it's unacceptable principle. I cannot accept the reality (of) land for peace. For us, the base for any political process, any negotiations, with Palestinians must be exchanging of land and population, exchanging of territory and population."

The loss of Lieberman's party is not a fatal blow to Olmert's government which still holds 67 of parliament's 120 seats.

Olmert's office released a statement saying the prime minister was determined to pursue peacemaking.

The departure of hardliner Lieberman is welcomed by some.

Ahmad Tibi, Arab-Israeli Member of Knesset, said, "Lieberman is a fascist immigrant who is willing to kick out Arabs and Arab leaders from this country out. We were here before him and we will remain here a long time after he will leave. "

The hardliners defection comes after Israelis and Palestinians recently re-launched talks following a seven-year breakdown.

Both sides pledged to try to reach a peace deal by the end of the year.

Washington is pushing Israel and the Palestinians for serious progress. U.S. President George W. Bush paid his first presidential visit to the region last week to encourage the two sides to get on with it.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei