News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Likud party whip Knesset Member Gideon Saar met with Shas party spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Monday morning and called on Shas to quit the government coalition. Their discussion centered on the issue of negotiating the status of Jerusalem with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Shas has stated it will quit the coalition if the issue is brought up, and there have been conflicting statements from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the PA concerning the timing of talks on the future of the capital.

Shas party chairman, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai (Shas), also participated in the meeting with MK Saar and Rabbi Yosef. The Likud MK said that Shas "can stop the inherent danger of negotiations" over Jerusalem.