Opposition leader arrives at Shas spiritual leader's Jerusalem home in bid to create united front against peace conference, warns him, 'Olmert government is giving away everything and getting terrorists in return.' Rabbi says some of his opinions similar to those presented by Netanyahu
Attila Somfalvi
The Olmert government is giving away everything and getting terrorists in return, opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday in a meeting with Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.  
Netanyahu arrived at the rabbi's home in Jerusalem along with Knesset Member Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) in a bid to boost the campaign against the upcoming US-sponsored Mideast peace conference and create a united front alongside the Shas party.    
The opposition leader told Rabbi Yosef that the Annapolis conference was dangerous for Israel, adding that things were conducted in the same way before the 2000 Camp David summit.  
"They are giving away everything and getting nothing," Netanyahu explained.  
Rabbi Yosef settled for biblical discourse, gave his blessing to Netanyahu and said that he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He noted that some of his opinions were similar to those presented by Netanyahu, and said that Shas had already warned against the dangers in the Annapolis conference.  
However, the rabbi refrained from expressing a firm opinion regarding the diplomatic conference expected to convene in Annapolis, Maryland at the end of the month.  
The meeting was also attended by Shas Chairman and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai. Yishai noted that since the since the peace conference was first mentioned, Shas was the one to remind that public and the leaders of the dangers in such a move.  
Shas officials said, however, that they doubted whether the meeting would have any political continuation at this stage.  
Last Wednesday, Yishai met with Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, and the two discussed political diplomatic issues in a bid to form a united front ahead of the Annapolis summit.
Lieberman sought to coordinate his party's moves regarding the conference, but Yishai refused "to play into his hands" and made it clear that he had no intention of launching a campaign against the summit.  
"Just like I talk to others, I will talk to you too. There is no need for coordination," Yishai told Lieberman.  
During Sunday's cabinet meeting, both Yishai and Lieberman expressed their reservations over the Annapolis conference.
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