In a politically dramatic announcement Friday, the Shas hareidi-Sephardic party said it would not be joining a new government under Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni "under any conditions." When asked on Voice of Israel Radio whether the decision was final, Shas chairman Eli Yishai said "yes."
"Shas cannot be bought and Shas will not sell out Jerusalem," he said.
Shas announced that its Council of Torah Sages - headed by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef - decided, after its members were polled by telephone, that the party will be staying out of Livni's coalition. The wording – "under any conditions" – appears to rule out the possibility that this is just political brinkmanship or a part of the customary haggling in negotiations between parties.
"Throughout the coalition negotiations Shas did not ask for titles or any political upgrading, but only two things: aid for the weak layers in Israeli society and protection of Jerusalem," Shas stated.
Elections?
Livni, who heads the ruling Kadima party, now appears to have only a slim chance of forming a government. To do so, she would have to enlist the support of the far Left and Arab parties, in a move that some Kadima Knesset Members oppose, and which would result in a flimsy coalition in any case. If she tells President Peres that she has failed to form a coalition he may decide to entrust another MK with that task or to call early elections.
Livni was elected to head Kadima after police recommended to indict Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on suspicion of financial and political corruption. Polls have shown that her chances of defeating the Likud in an election, were one to be held soon, are low. Her strategists hope however that she will have a better chance of beating the Likud if she serves a while as prime minister first, and is able to present the voters with a potential "peace deal" with the Fatah and Hamas.