The Shas-Sharon yo-yo continues to roll. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s son Omri, his special-missions representative, met with Shas leader MK Eli Yeshai last night to begin negotiating the party’s return to the government coalition. The Prime Minister fired Yishai and three other Shas ministers last Monday after they voted against the government’s emergency budget cut plan. In a six-page letter he wrote last week to Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the Prime Minister set conditions for the party\'s return to the government, which include Shas support for the economic bill in its second and third readings. Sharon also said that he was bothered by the failure of Yishai and ex-Labor and Welfare Minister Shlomo Benizri to fulfill the Cabinet\'s decisions to increase the number of foreign workers in agriculture to 28,000. Sharon, who adopted the Shas portfolios for himself until further notice, ordered the relevant bodies this morning to allow in another 6,000 such workers. Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, both of the Labor Party, expressed satisfaction with the decision.
In another development, Sharon decided this morning to cancel his planned appearance at tomorrow\'s annual Shas fundraiser. The decision was made with the tacit support of Shas, after Yishai informed Omri Sharon last night that the hundreds of Shas supporters attending the event would not greet the Prime Minister very happily.
In another development, Sharon decided this morning to cancel his planned appearance at tomorrow\'s annual Shas fundraiser. The decision was made with the tacit support of Shas, after Yishai informed Omri Sharon last night that the hundreds of Shas supporters attending the event would not greet the Prime Minister very happily.