Kadima to pull back to fence

Meretz: Kadima will evacuate all 68 settlements outside security fence.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
fence 298.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
fence 298.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Meretz representatives to the coalition negotiations told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that Kadima delegates had told them Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert intended to evacuate all 68 settlements on the far side of the security fence. The meeting between Kadima and Meretz delegates was the last meeting for Kadima's coalition negotiators with potential coalition partners. Meretz representatives also said that for Olmert to have a coalition that would be stable enough to implement his convergence plan he would have to include Meretz in the coalition rather than Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu. "Olmert will have to choose between Lieberman - who opposes his plan, would put spokes in his wheels and would break up his zigzagging coalition - or us, who support his plan, Meretz MK Avshalom Viln declared on Monday afternoon. "He needs to decide whether he is a national leader who will make history or just bide time. If he wants to make history, we are his partner." Olmert will meet tonight at 8:00 p.m. with his negotiating team to discuss what happened in the first round of negotiations and to decide which coalition to pursue and which parties to invite for a second meeting.