Five right-wing Knesset faction heads have signed a letter to Prime Minister Sharon demanding that he clarify that the establishment of a Palestinian state is not part of Israel's official policy. The letter follows remarks by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to the European Union that Israel has already accepted the "Bush vision" of two states for two peoples.
"We are unclear as to how Bush's idea of two states for two peoples became Israel's official policy," the letter reads. "We were not aware that the Israeli Government had adopted this dubious 'vision,' nor even that the government had held a debate on this baffling idea. We call upon you [Mr. Sharon] to put an end to your cooperation with the Foreign Minister in taking far-ranging positions without a government debate or decision. A decision on a Palestinian state and the dissection of the Land of Israel will not be made in any small-scale forum."
MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) initiated the letter, and it was co-signed by MKs Ya'ir Peretz (Shas), Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP), Yuri Stern (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), and Moti Mishani (Gesher). They say that if the Prime Minister's Office does not respond to their demand, they will be forced to turn to the European Union directly and inform them of the "intentional deception."
"We are unclear as to how Bush's idea of two states for two peoples became Israel's official policy," the letter reads. "We were not aware that the Israeli Government had adopted this dubious 'vision,' nor even that the government had held a debate on this baffling idea. We call upon you [Mr. Sharon] to put an end to your cooperation with the Foreign Minister in taking far-ranging positions without a government debate or decision. A decision on a Palestinian state and the dissection of the Land of Israel will not be made in any small-scale forum."
MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) initiated the letter, and it was co-signed by MKs Ya'ir Peretz (Shas), Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP), Yuri Stern (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), and Moti Mishani (Gesher). They say that if the Prime Minister's Office does not respond to their demand, they will be forced to turn to the European Union directly and inform them of the "intentional deception."