Barak Meets with Shas Leader on "Safety Net" ExtensionIsraeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met on November 19 with Chairman of the Shas Party Eli Yishai to discuss the government's request that Shas extend a "safety net," due to end on November 28.The ultra-Orthodox party agreed late October not to try to topple the coalition government led by Barak's Labor Party for at least one month, giving him a temporary "safety net." But during the meeting, Yishai neither agreed to Barak's request nor shut the door to further negotiations, according to local media reports. Yishai told the prime minister that he would bring the government's request to Shas' decision-making body, the Council of Torah Sages, which will decide on the issue. Meanwhile, he presented a list of conditions for Barak's request, top of which was Shas' demand for 4 million shekels (about US$1 million) from the state budget for its education system. For winning the "safety net," the government allocated 8.5 million shekels (over US$ 2 million) to fund Shas' almost- bankrupt religious school network. Shas, which has 17 members in the Knesset (Parliament), the third largest party after the ruling Labor and the opposition Likud, quit the coalition government before the July David Camp summit due to reported concessions to the Palestinians. Barak's minority government holds just 30 seats in parliament and can only count on the support of another 10, at least 21 seats less than needed for a stable government. Sunday's meeting was initiated by Barak after Yishai met with Likud leader Ariel Sharon, who was trying to convene a meeting of the heads of the opposition factions to coordinate positions on a possible resumption of the peace process. Yishai said after meeting with Sharon that the chances for Shas to join a coalition government were slim. "I think we should make progress towards an election, but in difficult times we should choose what is best for Israel's citizens, rather than Knesset seats and portfolios," Yishai said. Sharon said he and Yishai discussed the difficult security situation and Barak's intention to continue the peace process. "Barak endangers the safety of Israel, its citizens and soldiers by continuing the disastrous process," hardline Sharon said. In the meantime, Israeli Finance Minister Abraham Shohat and Justice Minister Yossi Beilin will meet Sunday evening with representatives from the left-wing Meretz to discuss the party's conditions for supporting the current government. Meretz quit the government in late June at the height of a government crisis triggered by disputes over the funding of Shas' religious educational network. |
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