The Likud is scheduled to respond to the Labor party\'s demands in the coalition negotiations today. Sharon\'s negotiating team will tell Labor that it does not agree to include a clause in the government guidelines calling for the \"dismantling of settlements if need be.\" Barak and Peres continue to wrangle over who is actually leading the negotiations.
In addition, Barak also demands the right to name the Labor ministers, while Peres insists that a party committee be established for the task. Peres demands only the Foreign Ministry - \"I want to contribute to the peace\" - while Barak refuses to say straight out that he will not back down on his decision to resign; Sharon has offered him the Defense Ministry. If Barak sticks to his decision to quit, the job will apparently go to Housing Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former IDF General. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, a member of the Likud negotiating team, says he expects the talks to conclude successfully within two days.
In addition, Barak also demands the right to name the Labor ministers, while Peres insists that a party committee be established for the task. Peres demands only the Foreign Ministry - \"I want to contribute to the peace\" - while Barak refuses to say straight out that he will not back down on his decision to resign; Sharon has offered him the Defense Ministry. If Barak sticks to his decision to quit, the job will apparently go to Housing Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former IDF General. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, a member of the Likud negotiating team, says he expects the talks to conclude successfully within two days.