Shas party chairman and Industry Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai has threatened to bolt the struggling coalition government if assistance is not given to low-income families suffering from sharp increases in the cost of food. "The food crisis is a global crisis, and Israel must therefore increase the children's allowance, old-age pensions, and income support to give families the purchasing power to deal with the global storm," he told Globes Wednesday.

The Shas party chairman said he will ask the Cabinet to discuss increased assistance. "Shas cannot stay in the government for very long if the allotments are not raised," he warned.

The coalition headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faces a dwindling majority with the possible walkout of up to three Pensioner Party dissidents. They will declare on Thursday whether they are joining a new faction or will remain in the party, whose seven Knesset Members give the government 67 mandates out of 120.