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02/12/2004
Sharon grapples to save Israeli government
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is desperately trying to save his government after he sacked his main coalition partner yesterday.
Ministers from the Shinai party were dismissed following their refusal to back the 2005 state budget in a first reading in parliament.
The schism means that Mr Sharon's party now holds only 40 of parliament's 120 seats. A spokesman for the government confirmed that they would now approach the left wing Labour Party and small religious groups in an attempt to remould a viable coalition.
This latest development has placed Israel's planned pull out from the Gaza strip in jeopardy and Sharon's party is keen to bring the Labour Party on board as soon as possible to avoid a no-confidence vote and a forced election.
Before the vote on the state budget on Monday night, Assaf Shariv, an aide to the Prime Minister said that if the government failed to get the budget passed, they would do so at another date in the near future. He added that they would definitely begin talking to the Labour Party with a view to inviting them into government.
Correspondents say Labour leader Shimon Peres would be keen to join the government as foreign minister and crucially he fully supports the proposed withdrawal of settlements from Gaza. However it remains to be seen if Mr Sharon's party Likud, which is already deeply divided, will agree to a Labour partnership.
(mmcg/sp)
Ministers from the Shinai party were dismissed following their refusal to back the 2005 state budget in a first reading in parliament.
The schism means that Mr Sharon's party now holds only 40 of parliament's 120 seats. A spokesman for the government confirmed that they would now approach the left wing Labour Party and small religious groups in an attempt to remould a viable coalition.
This latest development has placed Israel's planned pull out from the Gaza strip in jeopardy and Sharon's party is keen to bring the Labour Party on board as soon as possible to avoid a no-confidence vote and a forced election.
Before the vote on the state budget on Monday night, Assaf Shariv, an aide to the Prime Minister said that if the government failed to get the budget passed, they would do so at another date in the near future. He added that they would definitely begin talking to the Labour Party with a view to inviting them into government.
Correspondents say Labour leader Shimon Peres would be keen to join the government as foreign minister and crucially he fully supports the proposed withdrawal of settlements from Gaza. However it remains to be seen if Mr Sharon's party Likud, which is already deeply divided, will agree to a Labour partnership.
(mmcg/sp)
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