Minister of Industry and Trade Eli Yishai said this week that the party he represents, Shas, will not be able to remain in the coalition if the government promotes further Israeli withdrawals from Judea and Samaria.

In an interview published in a Shas party publication, Minister Yishai said, "We have seen how Gaza, which we left, became a missile base. We cannot allow such a base in the middle of the country." Minister Yishai added that he doesn't think coalition partner Yisrael Beiteinu will be able to remain either.

Plans for withdrawal from most or all of Judea and Samaria have reportedly been under discussion at meetings between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.