Foreign Minister Shimon Peres expressed sharp criticism of the Labor-Likud national unity government Wednesday and came down strongly on one side of an issue that could result in its dissolution.
Addressing the leadership of the National Religious Party, Peres spoke forcefully against Jewish settlements in the administered territories. There was no need for towns like Emmanuel and Ariel in the West Bank, he said, which serve as no more than bedroom communities.
He also charged that the unity government had no real political or social program, implying that he saw no justification for it to continue.
While he spoke, Likud’s Deputy Premier and Housing Minister David Levy was dedicating the new West Bank settlement of Betar, just south of Jerusalem.
He did so in face of a protest demonstration by the Peace Now movement and a delegation from the development town of Sderot in the Negev.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
