The Shas-Sharon yo-yo continues to swing. Omri Sharon, the Prime Minister’s son and 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 Yeshai and three other Shas ministers last Monday after they voted against the government’s emergency budget-cut plan. In a six-page letter last week to Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Sharon 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 Yeshai and ex-Labor and Welfare Minister Shlomo Benizri to fulfill the Cabinet\'s decisions to increase the quota of foreign workers available for agriculture to 28,000. Sharon, who has adopted the Shas portfolios for himself until further notice, gave orders this morning to allow in another 6,000 such workers from Thailand.
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, both of the Labor Party, expressed satisfaction with the decision. Simchon noted the dire situation of farmers who find themselves without enough manpower to harvest crops. The labor shortage is a result of the PA-initiated Oslo War, because of which Israel was forced to prevent free passage between the autonomous areas and the rest of Israel. Shas\' objections to the entry of workers stem from concern over the high numbers of foreign workers already in Israel.
In another Shas-Sharon development, the Prime Minister decided today to cancel his planned appearance at tomorrow\'s annual Shas fundraiser. The decision was made with the tacit support of Shas, after Eli Yeshai informed Omri Sharon last night that the hundreds of Shas supporters attending the event would not greet the Prime Minister very happily. In the meantime, Shas MK Benizri - a government minister until last week - says that contacts between Shas members and the Prime Minister\'s Office were held today on several levels. Shas MKs, who convened today to discuss the situation, have asked for a meeting with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom to discuss possible changes in the latter\'s economic program.
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, both of the Labor Party, expressed satisfaction with the decision. Simchon noted the dire situation of farmers who find themselves without enough manpower to harvest crops. The labor shortage is a result of the PA-initiated Oslo War, because of which Israel was forced to prevent free passage between the autonomous areas and the rest of Israel. Shas\' objections to the entry of workers stem from concern over the high numbers of foreign workers already in Israel.
In another Shas-Sharon development, the Prime Minister decided today to cancel his planned appearance at tomorrow\'s annual Shas fundraiser. The decision was made with the tacit support of Shas, after Eli Yeshai informed Omri Sharon last night that the hundreds of Shas supporters attending the event would not greet the Prime Minister very happily. In the meantime, Shas MK Benizri - a government minister until last week - says that contacts between Shas members and the Prime Minister\'s Office were held today on several levels. Shas MKs, who convened today to discuss the situation, have asked for a meeting with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom to discuss possible changes in the latter\'s economic program.