"One year ago we took up the reins of government when we received the trust of the voter and presented our path," Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom told a Likud convention in Tel Aviv Sunday.
"We waved the flag of settlement, in case anyone has forgotten. They told the prime minister to recognize the two-state solution, then to freeze construction, then to start negotiations. (But) there are no negotiations. There was a party (Kadima) that took that road – it's now in the opposition. Are we in government in order to implement their platform? When you stick with your principles, you succeed," he said.
"(The PM's) trip is very important because the US is our greatest ally. There can be anger, but at the end of the day the relations with the US and the entire international community can be different," Shalom said, while stressing that Netanyahu has the Likud's full support regarding the resumption of West Bank settlement construction on September 26, 2010, when the 10-month building freeze declared by the government expires.
"I hope that in light of the PM's statement regarding Jerusalem he will appoint a minister in charge of Jerusalem affairs immediately upon his return from the US," said Shalom.
"We waved the flag of settlement, in case anyone has forgotten. They told the prime minister to recognize the two-state solution, then to freeze construction, then to start negotiations. (But) there are no negotiations. There was a party (Kadima) that took that road – it's now in the opposition. Are we in government in order to implement their platform? When you stick with your principles, you succeed," he said.
"(The PM's) trip is very important because the US is our greatest ally. There can be anger, but at the end of the day the relations with the US and the entire international community can be different," Shalom said, while stressing that Netanyahu has the Likud's full support regarding the resumption of West Bank settlement construction on September 26, 2010, when the 10-month building freeze declared by the government expires.
"I hope that in light of the PM's statement regarding Jerusalem he will appoint a minister in charge of Jerusalem affairs immediately upon his return from the US," said Shalom.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said during the Likud event, "There are things that must be explained to the world quite simply: Jerusalem will not be included in any negotiation. Whoever questions Jerusalem, questions Israel's existence.
"Prime minister, tell (US President Barack) Obama and (Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton: 'Next Year in Jerusalem'," he said.