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Barak Agrees to Grant Sharon Veto Power: Radio
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak agreed late Sunday night to grant Likud leader Ariel Sharon veto power over a number of substantive peace process issues, removing the chief block to a national emergency government, Israel Radio reported Monday.
But sources close to Barak were quoted as saying that an emergency government will not be formed until after the prime minister returns from an expected visit to Washington for talks with President Bill Clinton in about two weeks.
The radio reports said Barak approved a proposal by Communications Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and Likud Knesset (parliament) member Meir Sheetrit, under which Sharon must pre-approve decisions on peace negotiations with the Palestinians, Israel's response to a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, and Israeli moves for "unilateral separation" from the Palestinians before the issues are brought before the cabinet for approval.
The sides are reportedly still in dispute over the course the peace process should take in the future.
Following a meeting Sunday with Barak which failed to yield a final deal on the emergency government, Sharon issued an ultimatum to Barak to decide the fate of the emergency government Monday before the hawkish leader shut his door for further negotiations.
However, Sharon agreed to talks between Sheetrit on his behalf and Ben Eliezer representing Barak Sunday night, when both negotiators agreed on a compromise concerning Sharon's right to block any decision on peace process and reaction to a potential unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood.
The two negotiators said after their meeting that they were unable to reach an agreement on Likud's demand that early elections be called within six months if Barak violates any paragraph in the accord.
Barak had vehemently denied granting Sharon veto power in cabinet decisions, and insisted on the possibility of resuming the peace negotiations with the Palestinians on the basis of the July Camp David talks, which the Likud has opposed.
The granting of veto power to the hawkish right-winger whose visit to the Islamic shrine Al Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem on September 28 triggered the recent spate of bloody Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, will mean a great restriction on the prime minister's ability to maneuver on the peace process already in tatters.
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