(Yossi Verter-Haaretz)......Before embarking on the visit, Ya'alon called Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, who is on the far right of the Likud, and asked him to join the group. Rivlin declined. He explained to Ya'alon that the Knesset had passed the disengagement law and that visiting Homesh was a type of provocation against the law.
"I suggest that we focus on areas like E-1 [between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim], and on the efforts to revive the Bush letter, which allowed Israel to build in the settlement blocs," Rivlin advised Ya'alon - who did not take the advice.
In the past few weeks, Rivlin has tried to persuade Likud ministers to be a bit more flexible, "to cut Bibi [Netanyahu] some slack," as he puts it, to make it easier for the prime minister to cope with the American pressure, which is likely to intensify. "Let's show a little restraint. Netanyahu is in great distress. We have to help him. Let's work to make the Americans understand that not we but the Arabs are the obstacle to peace," Rivlin is telling the ministers.
"I suggest that we focus on areas like E-1 [between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim], and on the efforts to revive the Bush letter, which allowed Israel to build in the settlement blocs," Rivlin advised Ya'alon - who did not take the advice.
In the past few weeks, Rivlin has tried to persuade Likud ministers to be a bit more flexible, "to cut Bibi [Netanyahu] some slack," as he puts it, to make it easier for the prime minister to cope with the American pressure, which is likely to intensify. "Let's show a little restraint. Netanyahu is in great distress. We have to help him. Let's work to make the Americans understand that not we but the Arabs are the obstacle to peace," Rivlin is telling the ministers.