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Last update - 17:44 12/05/2008 Rightist rabbis urge Bush not to meet Olmert during Israel visit By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, rabbis, Ehud Olmert  Right-wing rabbis across the nation on Monday urged U.S. President George W. Bush, who is scheduled to arrive in Israel this week, not to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in light of the criminal allegations against him currently being investigated. "It is beneath the honor of a president to hold talks with a man suspected of criminal behavior, who is willing to sell his homeland to save himself from the law," wrote the rabbis, who include chairman of the Yesha rabbinical council and chief rabbi of Kiryat Arba, Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef - the son of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Meir Mazuz, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Rabbi David Druckman and others. "We demand of the honorable president to cease applying pressure on the state to hand over territories to the Arabs. We ask the president not to meet Mr. Olmert on these issues, especially not at this time," they wrote. Advertisement The rabbis went on to say that "this is unbelievably impertinent that while the U.S. is waging a battle against terror, it is simultaneously pressuring Israel to succumb to terrorists! We are amazed by the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's shamelessness as she holds talks with a prime minister who is under criminal investigations from head to toe, and that his personal situation forces him to give in to pressure." The rabbis concluded the letter, saying "the honorable president, don't go down in history like Nebuchadnezzar and Titus, who destroyed Jerusalem. You probably remember that America doesn't benefit from causing harm, heaven forbid, to the Jewish people and its land. On the other hand, if you help keep our holy state whole, we promise you and your country boundless blessings." Related articles: Abbas asks Bush to keep closer eye on settlement expansion Organizers hope Olmert probe won't cast shadow on Peres conference Rabbis urge Bush to cancel visit Rightist rabbis urge 'measure for measure' revenge on foes Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death of a heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jews during the Holocaust, dies at 98. Apocalyptic tidings Holy See warns of nightmarish perils if Mideast nuclear arms race is not halted.   1.   Yaakov Sullivan 18:43  |  NYC 12/05/08   2.   Oye vey... 18:58  |  Esther 12/05/08   3.   Rabbis letter 19:04  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 12/05/08   4.   More terrorist entities? 19:12  |  David 12/05/08   5.   Rabbis are praying for Olmert 19:27  |  Zev 12/05/08   6.   Telling Bush to stay away only harms Israel 19:34  |  Tali 12/05/08   7.   Leadership is sorely needed 19:43  |  Jack Rubin 12/05/08   8.   Stupidity 19:57  |  ussishkin 12/05/08   9.   Rabbis are 100 percent correct 21:02  |  Jon 12/05/08   10.   Letter from the usual list of nutcases 22:00  |  David 12/05/08   11.   I wonder what these rightist think of Christians! 22:55  |  George 12/05/08   12.   And if Bush does not follow their advice ... 02:00  |  Axel 13/05/08   13.   rabbis or GOD 03:03  |  Jack 13/05/08   14.   what a sorry bunch of boldfaced hypocrites! 04:55  |  eric 13/05/08

Read & React Israel on alert as clashes rage across Lebanon for sixth day Responses: 305 Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released Responses: 136 Lieberman: I'd join Netanyahu gov't if I received defense post Responses: 77 Akiva Eldar: If Bush was really Israel's friend, he'd stay home Responses: 94 Haaretz TV: Religious homosexuals contend with self-hatred and Haredi condemnation Responses: 87 Rosner's Domain "Double-ness, lying and imposture have a special significance for an American Jew" Rosner's Guest: The Jewish story in 6 words Obama: Jewish state is a fundamentally just idea (WTR) Interview with Bush: the transcript Can Israel Survive for Another 60 Years? (WTR) More Headlines 03:45 Bush to Haaretz: Peace process not contingent on one man 01:45 Police search J'lem municipality for evidence PM received bribes 02:44 Lebanese army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting 02:45 ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, the new reality has taken over 20:31 Bush: Olmert is an honest man; our relationship is 'excellent' 02:02 J'lem bracing for gridlock during Peres presidential conference 22:07 U.S. think-tank aims to infuse Jewish life with dashes of color 04:54 Knesset removes hallway cameras from press wing 23:50 Woman killed as rocket directly hits Negev home 21:24 Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released 23:42 U.S. victims of terror in Israel sue Swiss bank for ties with Iran 21:36 11 J'lem teens suspected of racially motivated assault against Arabs Previous Editions Select Day 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr

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