Netanyahu heads for Prague, Berlin

In Berlin, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expects Chancellor Angela Merkel to rebuke him for his decision to expand construction in Jerusalem and the West Bank when he arrives for their annual government-to-government meeting Thursday. His reply will be on these lines: To prevent further Israeli responses, Europe should keep the Palestinians from further provocations. Netanyahu will also point out that the issue with the Palestinians is less territorial than over their refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Netanyahu is stopping over in Prague to personally thank Petr Necas, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the only EU nation to vote with against the Palestinian UN move last Thursday.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman dropped out of the Israeli delegation at the last minute, explaining he needs to finalize his Knesset list for the Jan. 22, elections.