Parties on Right, Left bring no-confidence motions again PM

Netanyahu to brief Foreign Affairs and Defense C’tee on trip to US; Katz criticize prime minister for allegedly changing two-state opposition.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Netanyahu in Knesset alone 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Netanyahu in Knesset alone 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will brief the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday morning on the results of his recent trip to the United States. However, at least six parties have formed their opinion before hearing Netanyahu speak, proposing five separate no confidence motions, which will be brought to a vote on Monday afternoon.
Kadima’s no-confidence motion claims that “Netanyahu is leading Israel to diplomatic isolation.Netanyahu always enters the station after the trains have already left,” opposition leader Tzipi Livni said in a statement. “He is asking [US President Barack] Obama to give us what [former US president George W.] Bush gave us in the past.”
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Livni said that in previous governments, Israel “dealt with Hamas and created the Quartet conditions. The world was with us as we negotiated and reached agreements with the Palestinian Authority. None of this is happening today,” the Kadima leader added. “Not only is Israel’s diplomatic standing in the world harmed, but so is Israel’s security.”
Meretz and Labor teamed up to express a lack of confidence in Netanyahu due to “the diplomatic situation” after his speech to the US Congress last week. United Arab List-Ta’al’s no-confidence motion says that “Netanyahu’s government is burying the peace process and strengthening the tear from the Arab population,” while Hadash claims that Netanyahu “refuses to make peace.” On the right, the National Union will bring forward a no-confidence motion on Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.
National Union MK Uri Ariel called on Netanyahu to take back his “outrageous” recognition of a Palestinian state, since “the Palestinians are not prepared to recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel’s existence. Even if they agree to Netanyahu’s demands out of pragmatism, they won’t really follow them because it opposes the basis of their beliefs.”
National Union leader Ya’akov Katz said that Netanyahu presented in Congress positions that contradicted those he presented to voters.
“We’re living in a democratic country,” Katz explained. “Netanyahu was elected because he opposed two states for two nations,” but now, “he turned his platform into Tzipi Livni’s platform.”
During Monday’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, Netanyahu also plans to discuss Israel’s security and diplomatic preparations for the Palestinians’ expected unilateral declaration of statehood at the UN in September.