Shas head Eli Yishai said Thursday that he believes there will be new national elections in the near future.  “I do not know how much longer this government will last, I think there will be new elections soon, maybe even before the municipal elections [in November—ed.].” 

Shas party officials say they will stay in the ruling coalition for the time being, despite Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s decision to freeze construction in Jewish areas in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem and the government’s willingness to hold “core issue” talks with the Palestinian Authority despite ongoing attacks.  However, the party has threatened to leave the coalition if Olmert agrees to negotiate the status of Jerusalem.