Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lashed out at Labor Party candidate Amram Mitzna at today's government meeting, saying that Mitzna's ideas about negotiations with the Arabs "are not and will not be the policy of the State of Israel."
Sharon criticized what he termed Mitzna's lack of experience at a time when "a real opportunity exists to start a political process" of negotiations with the PLO. "We can't let this opportunity slip out of our hands because of Mitzna's lack of experience," said Sharon. Sharon's remarks were made before reporters who were present at the opening of the meeting.
Until now, Sharon has stated repeatedly that he intends to invite Miztna to join a national unity government after the elections.
Sharon said that Israel has a plan that coincides in principle with the Bush administration's "road map" for peace in the Middle East, allowing for the defeat of terrorism and the terrorist leadership, and providing "a real opening for peace." He added that while there were "cracks in the Palestinian camp" than enabled a real opportunity to revive the political process, Mitzna's policies would thwart that process.
Sharon also attacked former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's policies for negotiating with the PLO. "It's well known what Barak's government promised at Taba," Sharon said, "almost total withdrawal with nothing in return, allowing the return of thousands of Palestinians to Israel that would bring about the end of Israel as a Jewish state."
Sharon severely criticized the Labor Party's policy of allowing "family reunifications for Arabs after the signing of the Oslo agreements, stating that "over this period, a liberal policy of such family reunifications increased the Arab population [or Israel] by over 100,000, at least."
Labor chief Miztna is expected to respond severely to Sharon's remarks in a speech to be given tonight to students at Tel Aviv University. Mitzna's advisors say that he will attack Sharon and his sons Omri and Gilad, whose names have been associated with reports of suspected corruption in the recent Likud primary elections.
General Secretary of the Labor party Ofer Pines said that "The Prime Minister has lost his mind." He added, "Unfortunately, he has cynically turned the government into Metzudat Ze'ev [Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv] by using a government meeting as a vehicle for expounding Likud election propaganda. Sharon is attempting to artificially manipulate a change in the public's order of priorities, from the issue of corruption in the Likud to a political argument…which has brought us down to the low state we're in."
Sharon criticized what he termed Mitzna's lack of experience at a time when "a real opportunity exists to start a political process" of negotiations with the PLO. "We can't let this opportunity slip out of our hands because of Mitzna's lack of experience," said Sharon. Sharon's remarks were made before reporters who were present at the opening of the meeting.
Until now, Sharon has stated repeatedly that he intends to invite Miztna to join a national unity government after the elections.
Sharon said that Israel has a plan that coincides in principle with the Bush administration's "road map" for peace in the Middle East, allowing for the defeat of terrorism and the terrorist leadership, and providing "a real opening for peace." He added that while there were "cracks in the Palestinian camp" than enabled a real opportunity to revive the political process, Mitzna's policies would thwart that process.
Sharon also attacked former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's policies for negotiating with the PLO. "It's well known what Barak's government promised at Taba," Sharon said, "almost total withdrawal with nothing in return, allowing the return of thousands of Palestinians to Israel that would bring about the end of Israel as a Jewish state."
Sharon severely criticized the Labor Party's policy of allowing "family reunifications for Arabs after the signing of the Oslo agreements, stating that "over this period, a liberal policy of such family reunifications increased the Arab population [or Israel] by over 100,000, at least."
Labor chief Miztna is expected to respond severely to Sharon's remarks in a speech to be given tonight to students at Tel Aviv University. Mitzna's advisors say that he will attack Sharon and his sons Omri and Gilad, whose names have been associated with reports of suspected corruption in the recent Likud primary elections.
General Secretary of the Labor party Ofer Pines said that "The Prime Minister has lost his mind." He added, "Unfortunately, he has cynically turned the government into Metzudat Ze'ev [Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv] by using a government meeting as a vehicle for expounding Likud election propaganda. Sharon is attempting to artificially manipulate a change in the public's order of priorities, from the issue of corruption in the Likud to a political argument…which has brought us down to the low state we're in."