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| Sunday, 12 December 2004 |
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Sharon moves to form new coalition ISRAEL, Saturday (AFP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon moved swiftly Friday to forge a national unity government after winning approval to reshape his coalition and crushing internal opposition to his Gaza pullout plan. Sharon, who has been bereft of a parliamentary majority for the last six months, was given a major boost late Thursday when the central committee of his own Likud party finally approved his plans to bring the main opposition Labour faction into government. After suffering the embarrassment of a defeat in a similar ballot in August, victory by a resounding vote of 1,410 to 857 was particularly sweet for Sharon. A source close to the prime minister said he had already phoned Labour leader Shimon Peres to start talks on joining the government. "Negotiations should begin at the beginning of next week after the Labour leadership gives them the green light Saturday evening," he told AFP. The source added that Sharon was also Friday to invite the two ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism to join the government. While Shas, opposed to the withdrawal from Gaza, is likely to stay outside the government, the five deputies of the UTJ are expected to come on board. The 81-year-old Peres, keen to taste power for possibly one last time, reiterated that he would welcome the opportunity to enter a new coalition in order to ensure the implementation of the so-called disengagement plan. |
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