Israel Beitenu: We won't join Olmert's coalition

The Israel Beitenu party announced on Monday afternoon it would not join a coalition headed by Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "We wanted to join the government, but not at the expense of our principles or values," read a message publicized by the faction. "Olmert has decided to turn toward the left and away from the immigration from the former Soviet Union. The [new government's] guidelines which speak of retreat and the removal of settlements without any return amount to a surrender to terror."