Likud invites Olmert to public debate

Likud called upon Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday to face Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu in a public debate. "This is a fateful and historic election …. and the public deserves more than obscuring stances and plans," Likud election spokesman Gideon Sa'ar wrote in a letter to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (Kadima), Army Radio reported. In December, before Sharon was incapacitated, Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu challenged Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Likud Chairman Amir Peretz to face him in a televised debate. While Peretz said he would agree, the debate never took place.