Coalition contacts have begun in full force, even though the current government is still standing. Prime Minister Sharon met yesterday with Labor leader Shimon Peres, made an appointment to meet with Shas leader Eli Yishai next week, and hinted to United Torah Judaism that it, too, might be invited.
Despite all the commotion, nothing appears to really be moving. This, too, could be in Sharon's interest, as his main interest at present is to keep afloat at least until the end of the current Knesset session, three weeks from now. As no-confidence motions can be brought only on Mondays, Sharon has three more "no-confidence Mondays" that he must brave.
He did not do so well yesterday. The no-confidence motion filed by the Shas party ended in a 55-55 tie vote, causing significant embarrassment to the ruling party that only six weeks ago led a coalition with a comfortable 75 seats in the Knesset.
Objections within the Likud to a unity government with Labor are increasing in intensity. Minister Meir Sheetrit this morning joined those who have been speaking against it, saying that Labor's economic policies are in no way acceptable to the Likud.
Sharon faced the full brunt of the Likud opposition yesterday during the party's Knesset faction meeting. He threatened, however, that in light of the fact that several anti-disengagement Likud MKs don't always show up to vote for the government in important Knesset votes, he has no choice but to either include Labor or call new elections. The Prime Minister apparently realized, however, that he must seek other options, and is now considering bringing in one or both of the hareidi parties - a move that would entail the departure of Shinui, which has vowed not to sit in the same government as a hareidi party.
Shas leader Eli Yishai said today that though his party objects to the disengagement plan, this is chiefly because of its unilateral nature. He said that Shas does not totally negate the evacuation of Jewish communities in the framework of an agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
Sources close to Sharon told Army Radio today, however, that at this stage, he does not plan to enter into official coalition negotiations with the religious parties.
Despite the above, Labor MKs were insulted by Sharon's hints to the hareidi parties, and at least two of them have called publicly for an end to any contacts between Labor and Likud. MK Ophir Pines, echoed afterwards by Matan Vilnai, said that Sharon's pursuing of the religious parties shows that he is "interested not in disengagement, but rather in survival."
Despite all the commotion, nothing appears to really be moving. This, too, could be in Sharon's interest, as his main interest at present is to keep afloat at least until the end of the current Knesset session, three weeks from now. As no-confidence motions can be brought only on Mondays, Sharon has three more "no-confidence Mondays" that he must brave.
He did not do so well yesterday. The no-confidence motion filed by the Shas party ended in a 55-55 tie vote, causing significant embarrassment to the ruling party that only six weeks ago led a coalition with a comfortable 75 seats in the Knesset.
Objections within the Likud to a unity government with Labor are increasing in intensity. Minister Meir Sheetrit this morning joined those who have been speaking against it, saying that Labor's economic policies are in no way acceptable to the Likud.
Sharon faced the full brunt of the Likud opposition yesterday during the party's Knesset faction meeting. He threatened, however, that in light of the fact that several anti-disengagement Likud MKs don't always show up to vote for the government in important Knesset votes, he has no choice but to either include Labor or call new elections. The Prime Minister apparently realized, however, that he must seek other options, and is now considering bringing in one or both of the hareidi parties - a move that would entail the departure of Shinui, which has vowed not to sit in the same government as a hareidi party.
Shas leader Eli Yishai said today that though his party objects to the disengagement plan, this is chiefly because of its unilateral nature. He said that Shas does not totally negate the evacuation of Jewish communities in the framework of an agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
Sources close to Sharon told Army Radio today, however, that at this stage, he does not plan to enter into official coalition negotiations with the religious parties.
Despite the above, Labor MKs were insulted by Sharon's hints to the hareidi parties, and at least two of them have called publicly for an end to any contacts between Labor and Likud. MK Ophir Pines, echoed afterwards by Matan Vilnai, said that Sharon's pursuing of the religious parties shows that he is "interested not in disengagement, but rather in survival."