Netanyahu criticized faulted on key issues

JERUSALEM, July 22 (UPI) -- Members of Israel's opposition parties harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for failing to address key issues, local media reports said.

Wednesday's parliamentary debate was initiated by 40 Knesset opposition members who demanded to know in what direction Netanyahu's government is leading the country, Maariv said Wednesday.

Kadima chairwoman Dalia Itzick said after 113 days in power, no one knows anything about Netanyahu's plans for the future, the paper said.

She accused Netanyahu of being crooked, void of any vision and lacking in emotion, the report said. Is it possible the country's steering wheel has been placed in the hands of a pilot who does not know how to navigate, the paper quoted Itzick asking.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni accused Netanyahu of avoiding peace, and said the country needs borders, the English language Ynetnews.com said.

Netanyahu opted to discuss the Palestinians demand to dismantle the security barrier instead, and said the barrier will remain standing, the Hebrew language Ynetnews.com said. The prime minister also spoke about Iran's nuclear threat, saying it is not only a major concern for Israel but a threat to the entire region, the site said.