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Olmert’s Coalition Loses 11 Seats with Resignation

Posted By The Media Line Staff On In Mideast Daily News

 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s ruling coalition was reduced by 11 seats with the resignation of Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman and the withdrawal from the government of his Yisrael Beiteinu party. A two-day cooling-off period will run before the resignation takes effect. Lieberman, a right-wing politician who immigrated from the former Soviet Union, had warned Olmert that he would pull out of the government if he allowed negotiations on the core issues – Jerusalem, final borders, and Palestinian refugees – to take place. On Tuesday, core issue talks began. Olmert is attempting to downplay the net effect of the loss of Yisrael Beiteinu, and is said to be negotiating with a religious party and a far-left wing party to replace it.