Nothing - not Shas\' abstention in yesterday\'s budget-cutting vote, not a personal letter from Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, and not even the fatal terrorist attack last night - succeeded in convincing Prime Minister Sharon last night to retract his dismissal of the four Shas government ministers. The firings thus took effect shortly after midnight, and the departure of Shas (17 MKs) and United Torah Judaism (5) from the coalition left the coalition represented by exactly half the Knesset - 60 MKs. Sharon and his partners will have difficulty governing in this manner, and it is therefore expected that negotiations to expand the government will begin very soon. The Likud will turn first to the right-wing National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu (7 seats) - initial contacts have already been made - while the anti-religious Shinui party (6) will be left on hold in order to leave the door open once again for Shas.
Neither Likud nor Shas sources deny the possibility of a quick return by Shas to the coalition. Former minister Shlomo Benizri said openly that his party is interested in returning to the coalition. Sharon\'s aides say, though, that this is contingent on Shas\' support of the emergency economic plan. The plan, with minor changes, must pass two more Knesset votes before becoming law.
Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana remains the only representative of Shas in the government. He is not a Knesset Member, and therefore did not vote against the bill on Monday, and was therefore not fired. Eli Yeshai, Nissim Dahan, Shlomo Benizri and Eli Suissa are no longer Ministers of the Interior, Health, Labor, and Jerusalem, respectively.
Neither Likud nor Shas sources deny the possibility of a quick return by Shas to the coalition. Former minister Shlomo Benizri said openly that his party is interested in returning to the coalition. Sharon\'s aides say, though, that this is contingent on Shas\' support of the emergency economic plan. The plan, with minor changes, must pass two more Knesset votes before becoming law.
Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana remains the only representative of Shas in the government. He is not a Knesset Member, and therefore did not vote against the bill on Monday, and was therefore not fired. Eli Yeshai, Nissim Dahan, Shlomo Benizri and Eli Suissa are no longer Ministers of the Interior, Health, Labor, and Jerusalem, respectively.