Shas party chairman and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai has warned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Shas would leave the coalition government immediately if Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator Ahmed Qureia discuss the issue of dividing Jerusalem.

The language of the warning leaves open the possibility of discussions on the issue by junior negotiating teams. The Prime Minister promised the Shas leader that he would update him on every concession that Israel makes in negotiations with the PA.

Two years ago, then-Acting Prime Minister Olmert stated, "There cannot be a Jewish state without a united Jerusalem, the capital, under Israeli control."