In The News

by Ami Eden and Ron Kampeas

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11/27/2007

JTA: Orthodox criticism of Olmert foreshadows Jewish showdown

Communal insiders say the front line is now the Conference of Presidents. In addition to pushing for a statement on Jerusalem, opponents of Israeli concessions to Abbas also are lobbying for the umbrella body to call on the Palestinian leader to abrogate any clauses in his Fatah Party's constitution that support terrorism or call for Israel's destruction.

Both issues are expected to come up at the Conference of Presidents' next general meeting, on Dec. 20, several members said. Liberal groups say that they will fight both initiatives, painting them as transparent efforts to undercut Olmert's talks with the Palestinians.

"These proposals, from what I'll call some of the right-of-center groups, would really put the Conference of Presidents in opposition to some of the initiatives that the U.S. and the Israelis are currently working on," said Kenneth Bob, president of Ameinu, formerly the Labor Zionist Alliance. "At a minimum, I would expect the conference not to support any of these proposals whose motivation is to show opposition to the peace process, early stage as it is."

Excertped from:

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20071127olmertjerusalemfight1127.html