Israel Radio: Livni wrong in claim that hundreds of thousands of Israelis
applying for foreign passports
13 August 2009 Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA

Israel Radio and Television correspondent Ayala Chason as anchor for the
"It's All Talk" program on Israel Radio this morning, had the embassies of
all the major countries represented in Israel contacted today to find out
if, indeed, as opposition leader Tzipi Livni claimed, hundreds of thousands
of Israelis were applying for foreign passports.

Every embassy replied that there was no change in the number of applicants
and that the number of applicants (in each case, in the hundreds a year) has
remained at the same level for years.

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Livni: Israelis desperate to leave country
Opposition chairman says hundreds of thousands of Israelis searching or ways
to move abroad in light of grim political situation in country, government's
lack of vision
Attila Somfalvi YNET Published: 08.12.09, 22:36 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3761231,00.html

The Israeli public has lost all hope in light of the political situation in
the country, opposition leader Tzipi Livni said Wednesday evening.

"I see the despair of many Israelis. Hundreds of thousands see what is
happening and arrange for a foreign passport, send their children to study
abroad and even buy a house overseas," Livni told hundreds of Kadima MKs and
activists at a gathering in Tirat Hacarmel.

"I know many of you have come ere tonight because they care, not only about
Kadima as a party, but also about the State of Israel. I know you too share
what a great part of the Israeli public feels - desperation," she said.

"Only four months have passed since the establishment of the government. In
other places this is usually a period of hope, prosperity, and vision.
Instead, since the day this government took office, with its dozens of
ministers and deputy ministers, the public has realized that its sole
objective was political survival."

Kadima's chairwoman strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
for his "lack of vision and lack of clear path."

Livni lauded the faction members for the hard work they have been putting in
at the Knesset. "Gentlemen, every one of Kadima's members and activists
should be proud of the party. There is no other faction like it in the
Knesset, and hasn't been one in many years," she stated."