The Council of Communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha Council) calls upon all Zionist parties, including the National Union and Shas, to join the government. \"In light of the security/military escalation,\" the Council announced, \"and in light of the needs of the State of Israel in general at this time, it would be fitting that the Prime Minister receive full support to take the necessary steps.\" It will be recalled that Sharon fired Shas ministers after they voted against his proposed economic budget-cutting package.
The Council may have been responding to reports that Sharon was considering the possibility of leaving Shas and United Torah Judaism out of the coalition and relying solely on Labor. Such a plan was to be contingent upon a Labor promise not to bolt the coalition and bring about early elections in the coming year. The media had no sooner reported that development this morning when other reports of a likely compromise between Sharon and Shas began appearing. That agreement-in-formation apparently stipulates that Shas will vote for the budget cuts, but will have a chance to raise objections and recommendations with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom beforehand. Likud MK Ze\'ev Boim said today that minor changes would be acceptable, but not those that would \"uproot the entire package.\" Shas objects to cutting child allowances and other measures that it feels would shift an unfair proportion of the economic crisis onto the weaker sectors.
The Council may have been responding to reports that Sharon was considering the possibility of leaving Shas and United Torah Judaism out of the coalition and relying solely on Labor. Such a plan was to be contingent upon a Labor promise not to bolt the coalition and bring about early elections in the coming year. The media had no sooner reported that development this morning when other reports of a likely compromise between Sharon and Shas began appearing. That agreement-in-formation apparently stipulates that Shas will vote for the budget cuts, but will have a chance to raise objections and recommendations with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom beforehand. Likud MK Ze\'ev Boim said today that minor changes would be acceptable, but not those that would \"uproot the entire package.\" Shas objects to cutting child allowances and other measures that it feels would shift an unfair proportion of the economic crisis onto the weaker sectors.