Sharon explores possibility of unity government
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is exploring the possibility of bringing the opposition Labour Party into his government as he tries to push forward with his plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip, officials said today.
Sharon, who faces considerable opposition to the plan inside his Cabinet, is weighing all options ahead of a Cabinet vote next Sunday, a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Hard-line members of his coalition have threatened to leave the government if the plan passes, which would force Sharon to seek new cabinet partners.
Sharon confidant Uri Shani met Labour leader Shimon Peres on Thursday night to discuss the possibility of an alliance between the parties. Officials declined to discuss details of the meeting.
Cabinet minister Tommy Lapid of the centrist Shinui party confirmed there were talks about forming a government with the Labour Party, but said no decisions had been made.
Sharon’s hard-line Likud Party rejected the Gaza pullout plan in a referendum earlier in the month, making it difficult for Likud ministers to support the idea, which has been endorsed by the United States.
Sharon is to present his cabinet a revised version of the plan next Sunday. The proposal calls for a withdrawal from all Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.
Sharon hopes that with minor changes he will have a majority in his cabinet, but that is not guaranteed.
Uzi Landau, a Likud minister opposed to the ”disengagement” plan, criticised the talks. “The Likud will become a hostage in the hands of Labour,” he said.
Some Labour legislators were also outraged. Although the party backs the pullout plan, it has said it will wait until a corruption investigation into Sharon is completed before it joins the government.
Attorney General Meni Mazuz is expected to decide whether to indict Sharon in the coming weeks.
“The opposition is damaged by this meeting and again Sharon is using us ... to strengthen his coalition,” Labour lawmaker Ofir Pines-Paz told Israel’s Army Radio.
