Posted on 12/15/2004 11:14:44 AM PST by anotherview
Dec. 15, 2004 8:29 | Updated Dec. 15, 2004 19:01
PM, Peres try to end coalition crisis
By GIL HOFFMAN
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke to Labor chairman Shimon Peres on Wednesday evening in an attempt to solve the crisis in coalition talks between Likud and Labor.
Senior members of the Likud party fumed over Sharon's offer Tuesday night of the Interior and Communications Ministries portfolios to the Labor party as part of coalition negotiations.
In a bid to solve the stalled coalitions talks, Sharon called Peres and offered Labor the Interior Ministry and the Communication portfolio, making it clear that that was Likud's final offer.
"Let's act like leaders and take responsibility and resolve this dispute," Sharon reportedly told Peres.
"This is my final proposal. If your party intends to bring about elections in order to obtain control over the Israel Land Authority and the Israel Broadcasting Authority then explain that to you voters," Sharon told Peres.
The Likud party has been eager to resist Labor's attempts to take over the Israel Land Authority and the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Peres responded that he has to consult with his coalition negotiation team and Sharon's associates said they hope both teams will meet today.
Sharon associates proposed that Education Minister Limor Livnat becomes Interior Minister and allow a Labor MK to replace her. Livnat unequivocally turned down the proposal.
"Livnat is only interested in one position," her spokeswoman said. "She has many more reforms to do at the Education Ministry. It is the most important job in Israel today," the spokeswoman said.
Speaking on Israel Radio Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu accused Labor of being "politically motivated" in demanding budget changes, rather than being truly concerned with social issues.
"The Labor party's demand – which is the party's primary demand [in coalition negotiations] – is to give hundreds of millions of shekels to underprivileged sectors which are already receiving allowances. They could have directed their requests to the sectors which are not already allotted funds. So I am just saying that it this not a social demand – it is a political one," Netanyahu said.
"For the benefit of economic development, it is preferable that the interior ministry portfolio remain within the Likud. I hope that we will be able to keep the majority of central portfolios," Netanyahu added.
Meanwhile, the Labor convention has scheduled a meeting for Thursday in Tel Aviv to determine the party's stance on the state budget, Army Radio reported. Senior members of the party said that if Labor does not reach an agreement with the Likud on social-economic matters, the faction may decide to have the party vote against the budget in parliament.
Citing differences of opinion between the two parties, head of coalition talks for Labor MK Dalia Itzik cancelled a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with her Likud counterpart attorney Yoram Raved, Israel Radio reported.
Itzik explained that Likud's offer of the Interior Ministry portfolio is not enough to resolve the differences of opinion between Labor and Likud.
In another development a group of Labor MKs petitioned the party to allow a separate race for the selection of deputy minister by the central committee. MKs Colette Avital, Eli Ben-Menahem, Orit Noked, and Raleb Majadleh filed the request.
Late Tuesday night, Sharon added the Interior and Communications ministries (minus control over the Broadcast Authority) to the offer after consultations with his supporters. However, Labor is requesting one of the three ministries Likud ministers currently head in addition: Education, Transportation or Internal Security. Sources say that the Transportation portfolio will remain with Likud, however.
The 15 Labor MKs seeking cabinet positions campaigned vigorously in a Labor central committee party in Haifa on Tuesday night. In what was deemed a potentially theoretical meeting, Labor's Law Committee met for five hours on Tuesday to decide how to elect ministers to cabinet positions.
After considering allowing Peres to recommend a list of candidates and head-to-head competition for every portfolio, the committee ultimately decided to let Labor central committee members select seven candidates and allow winning candidates to choose portfolios in the order of their finish.
Peres will be given his portfolio automatically without having to run.
Meimad also demanded that Labor fulfill the agreement signed between the two when it joined Labor and grant it a ministry or deputy ministry.
On Tuesday, Labor's coalition negotiating team decided that Labor will join a national unity government without taking any portfolios if its disputes with the Likud are not solved by Wednesday.
"Joining without portfolios is very realistic," Itzik told The Jerusalem Post,. "It would make the entire process much easier for everyone. Forming a new coalition in mid-term is very difficult and it will be a real accomplishment if we are successful."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's associates, however, said allowing Labor to join the coalition without portfolios is not an option for Sharon, who wants Labor to have ministers who will be committed to keeping the party in the government.
Labor chairman Shimon Peres told reporters on a visit to Modi'in Tuesday that he would talk to Sharon to help resolve the disputes if necessary, but until then would allow Itzik to handle the matter herself.
Peres also said the Likud can and should make compromises on the budget.
"Labor cannot join the government under the current terms offered by the Likud," he said at the Herzliya Conference. "Labor conceded all the important positions, including the Foreign Ministry, to enter the government. We decided that if the two options in 2005 are elections and disengagement, we choose disengagement."
Mati Wagner contributed to this report.
Then again, this is Israeli politics. Anything can happen and often will.
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