Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, still reeling from the perceived blow dealt him by Prime Minister Sharon and the decision to forbid a meeting with Arafat, is said to be thinking of resigning. This afternoon he expressed his wish to go \"on vacation,\" but Labor party ministers asked for an urgent meeting with Sharon to discuss the threat, and asked Peres to hold off on his decision until afterwards. The meeting will take place tomorrow at noon.
Political analysts say that there are only slim chances that Labor as a whole will quit the coalition, since popular support for the party is at an all-time low. Several Labor ministers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they see no reason to resign from the government. Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, who may yet become the leader of the Labor Party following the disputed internal elections three weeks ago, criticized Sharon for insisting on 48 hours of quiet before allowing a Peres-Arafat meeting.
Political analysts say that there are only slim chances that Labor as a whole will quit the coalition, since popular support for the party is at an all-time low. Several Labor ministers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they see no reason to resign from the government. Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, who may yet become the leader of the Labor Party following the disputed internal elections three weeks ago, criticized Sharon for insisting on 48 hours of quiet before allowing a Peres-Arafat meeting.