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Barak to Seek New Shas-Meretz Partnership
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is expected to give top priority to forming a new coalition with Meretz and Shas parties, The Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted a source of the ruling One Israel as reporting on Friday.
Barak believes he can overcome the differences between Meretz and Shas that led to the June coalition crisis which resulted in the resignation of three Meretz cabinet ministers, including Education Minister Yossi Sarid, the source added.
Three Meretz ministers quit their cabinet posts during the June crisis, but the party has remained in the coalition. The powerful ultra-Orthodox Shas party pulled out from the cabinet and coalition in July after Barak decided to go to the Camp David peace summit.
Barak's options for a new coalition are limited since he plans to pursue a framework agreement on the final-status issues with the Palestinians, the source pointed out.
In recent days, Barak held talks with Meretz leader Sarid and Shas leader Eli Yishai, and both expressed frustration over the past, but did not rule out a new partnership.
Barak also views Am Ehad (One Nation) and Democratic Choice, each holding two Knesset (parliament) members, as the next in line for the new coalition.
But none of these options is considered automatic. Sarid will have to compromise on funding for the Shas educational network, and Yishai will have to come to terms with the peace process, the source said.
Am Ehad, led by National Trade Federation Chairman Amir Peretz, will be asked to compromise on social issues, while his colleague, Haim Katz, will face the task of softening his position on the peace process, the source said.
The secular Democratic Choice, may not agree to join the new coalition that includes Shas, but has already said it will support the peace process from the outside.
A coalition that includes all these parties will give Barak 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
According to Communications Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer, Barak wants talks to take place with as wide a range of factions as possible on forming a new coalition.
A negotiating team is expected to be set up next week, compromising One Israel ministers and Knesset members, to conduct such talks, the minister said.
A number of One Israel ministers and Knesset members on Thursday vented their anger toward Barak for his poor handling of the recent domestic political affairs, in which Labor's presidential candidate Shimon Peres lost in the vote, while the opposition's bill calling for early elections passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset.
Officials in the Prime Minister's Office also expressed their anger on Thursday over reports that senior Labor members plan to challenge Barak's party leadership.
Meanwhile, opposition Likud party leader Ariel Sharon spoke of making preparations for the next elections, stating on Thursday that Likud will hold a party primary to determine its prime ministerial candidate.
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