Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy Quits
August 3, 2000 - 0:0
BAIT-UL-MOQADDAS Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy resigned on Wednesday, further weakening Prime Minister Ehud Barak as he tries to negotiate a peace deal with the Palestinians.
Levy, 62, carried out his threat to resign, accusing Barak of making too many concessions to the Palestinians, especially on the issue of Bait-ul-Moqaddas, which Levy said Barak was willing to divide.
"I placed on the desk of the prime minister a letter of resignation, my resignation from the government," Levy told a news conference.
He said he was left no choice but to quit after Barak failed to make sufficient moves toward forming a broad unity government to deal with the problems he faces.
Meanwhile, Israeli Parliament took the first step toward dissolving itself, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Ehud Barak at a turning point in peace talks with the Palestinians.
The 120-seat Knesset voted 61-51 with six abstentions in the preliminary vote to dissolve itself, the first move toward an early general election.
Levy, 62, carried out his threat to resign, accusing Barak of making too many concessions to the Palestinians, especially on the issue of Bait-ul-Moqaddas, which Levy said Barak was willing to divide.
"I placed on the desk of the prime minister a letter of resignation, my resignation from the government," Levy told a news conference.
He said he was left no choice but to quit after Barak failed to make sufficient moves toward forming a broad unity government to deal with the problems he faces.
Meanwhile, Israeli Parliament took the first step toward dissolving itself, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Ehud Barak at a turning point in peace talks with the Palestinians.
The 120-seat Knesset voted 61-51 with six abstentions in the preliminary vote to dissolve itself, the first move toward an early general election.