Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz resigns

[oberliner]

Peretz resigned following his harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct on diplomatic issues.

Minister of Environmental Protection Amir Peretz today resigned from the government, following harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct on diplomatic issues. Peretz met today with Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, the chairman of his party (Hatenua), and notified her that he would submit his resignation. Livni said that she respected his decision, and that they would continue to act jointly in the party. As of now, it is unclear who will replace Perez as minister.

After announcing his resignation during the cabinet meeting, Peretz had a verbal confrontation with Netanyahu. "Instead of the steering the ship and looking for solutions, you're looking for someone to blame," he told Netanyahu. "It's the prime minister's job to rise above personal criticism and political considerations, and to show responsibility to Israel's citizens. It's unacceptable when people with a broad national and international perspective who also regard a diplomatic solution as a key part of their effort are accused of surrendering to terrorism." Peretz continued, "I acted firmly against terrorism, no less than you, against both Hezbollah and Hamas, and I believed in and worked on behalf of a diplomatic process as part of a general security concept for Israel." Peretz managed to resign before Netanyahu fired him, following his remarks yesterday on Channel 2. Among other things, Peretz said that he did not intend to support the budget, which he described as lacking social concern, "which does not address the people's descent into poverty and inability to make a dignified living." Netanyahu answered, "According to you people, the only initiative is to jump off the cliff and surrender. The job of a leader is to recognize what reality is, and to create unity against it.

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-environmental-protection-minister-amir-peretz-resigns-1000984978

[King_David]

1. Good for Peretz

[sabbat hunter]

2. I wish

Livini would resign and take the entire party with her from the coalition and bring it down.

[Scootaloo]

3. A magnificently dickbag response from Netanyahu, too

Looks like everything Peretz said just passed in one ear and out the other.

Weird how everything Netanyahu said though, sounds exactly like what some posters here say, even while proclaiming their opposition to the guy.

[oberliner]

4. Can you please refrain from the vulgarity?

I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Scootaloo]

5. Nope.

Thanks for asking, though.

[Jefferson23]

6. You have such selective requests, oberliner. n/t

[oberliner]

7. I appreciate the posters like you who avoid vulgarity

I wish others would have the same courtesy.

[Jefferson23]

8. I'm no example of that to be honest..and you'll be pointing your requests

across the board, I imagine?

[oberliner]

9. If someone responds to my posts with vulgarity on a regular basis, yes

Once in a while doesn't bother me too much but if done with regularity, I would politely ask the person to refrain.

[Jefferson23]

10. Alrighty. n/t