In a final campaign push prior to Tuesday's general election, Likud Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu told supporters on Sunday that if elected prime minister, he will not allow the surrender of the Golan Heights or the division of Jerusalem in exchange for dubious peace deals with the Arabs.
During a tree planting ceremony on the Golan marking the Jewish holiday of Tu B'shvat, Netanyahu stated: "Jerusalem will not be divided again and ... the Golan will stay in our hands only if the Likud is victorious. If Kadima wins, we will leave the Golan."
Asked about this week's media reports of an imminent Egyptian-brokered truce with Hamas that would include the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Netanyahu dismissed them as propaganda designed to boost the chances of his opponents.
Netanyahu warned that using Shalit to win additional votes could actually diminish chances of securing his safe release.
The Likud leader was highly critical of the Olmert government following the recent Gaza war for not making the downfall of Hamas one of its objectives. Instead, Israel has now been put in a position of having no choice but to negotiate indirectly with the Islamic terror group
Update 23.26 When a hamas rocket hit Israël, say the exit poll that Kadima wins the elections
israelconsulate #Israel election, 10% counted: Kadima 22%, Likud 21%, Israel Beitenu 13%, Labor 11% Shas 10% #AskIsrael
Update 11 februari 2009
israelconsulate #Israel elections, 99% counted (# of seats): Kadima 28; Likud 27; Israel Beitenu 14; Labor 13; Shas 11; #AskIsrael about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck
But the voting must come today from all the soldiers! we must wait.