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Israel's Barak Resumes Efforts on Emergency Government
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has resumed contacts with the right-wing opposition Likud Party in a bid to form a national emergency government, a legislator from the ruling One Israel said on Monday, December 4.
One Israel Knesset (parliament) member Elie Goldschmidt told Army Radio that he had renewed his initiative to set up a unity government and that he had spoken with leading figures of the Likud over the issue.
The attempt could prevent former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from making a political comeback, which will not only threaten Barak's prospects of re-winning the premiership but also Likud leader Ariel Sharon's bid for party leadership in early elections.
Army Radio, quoting unnamed Likud senior officials, reported that Sharon would press for an emergency government and postponement of early elections, if the law specifying direct election of the prime minister is not repealed.
This would put Sharon at loggerheads with Netanyahu, his main party rival, who is seen as the principal potential beneficiary of the current system.
Local media reported on Monday that Sharon and Barak were negotiating a unity government behind the scenes.
In the meantime, in a step viewed as a signal to press ultra-Orthodox parties to reverse their support of early elections and to accept a national emergency government, Barak has reminded the parties that the draft deferments he has extended to yeshiva students will expire next week.
Under Supreme Court's order, Barak's temporary authority over deferments from military duty expires on Sunday. The Knesset was supposed to have extended the authority, but after the decision on early elections, the coalition refrained from submitting the extension bill for parliamentary approval.
The prime minister's previous efforts to form an emergency government with the Likud ran aground as he refused to grant Sharon veto power over diplomatic or security policies, a move that will tie his hands if peace negotiations are to be resumed with the Palestinians.
The return of Netanyahu on Monday to Israel will enhance the tensions in the Israeli political spectrum.
Barak announced last Tuesday that he was ready for early elections and that such a date would be set after coordination between his Labor Party and the Likud. The Knesset passed the first reading of early elections bill that day.
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