Although a Likud party court ordered the Prime Minister to allow his party to meet in order to discuss his invitation to the Labor party to join the governing coalition, Ariel Sharon announced that he would not listen to anything the Likud Central Committee had to say on the matter.
Negotiating teams from the Likud and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) said that the two parties have made much progress in coalition talks and predict an agreement within a week.
Shinui Party leader Justice Minister Tommy Lapid accused UTJ MKs of floating trial balloons in the hope of forcing Shinui out of the government coalition. UTJ spokesmen have made statements of late implying that Likud agreed to the religious party's demands with regard to synagogue-and-state issues. Lapid explained that statements by UTJ officials following negotiations are intended to apply pressure on Shinui to leave the coalition.
Likud officials confirmed that they had agreed to remove amendments to the Tal Law dealing with the exemption of yeshiva students from the draft, as well as the clause regarding a Civil Marriage Law, from the coalition agreement with UTJ.
Lapid emphasized that his party will not abandon efforts to move ahead with the Civil Marriage Law, and will not walk away from achievements made during the current administration in reducing religious influence on Israeli society. Chief negotiator Avraham Poraz told the Maariv newspaper that Shinui "will not participate in any government not committed to passing the civil marriage acts and the Tal law amendment."
Following reports that the Likud had given in to UTJ, MK Ophir Pines (Labor) announced that he would work to see Labor and Shinui form a joint front with regard to coalition negotiations.
Labor party leader MK Shimon Peres announced that there cannot be a coalition government promoting peace without the inclusion of Labor. This reality, he added during a gathering of party activists in the Galilee, places a heavy responsibility on Labor. He explained that Labor has made "minimum demands" that must be met in order for the party to agree to join the government. In addition, Peres attacked Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's economic policies, accusing him of ignoring the weaker segments of society.
In the meantime, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, also of the Labor party, yesterday announced his firm opposition to Labor joining a national unity coalition government. Barak is calling on party leaders to remain in opposition and offer the nation a clear alternative to the policies of the current Likud-led government.
Prime Minister Sharon, for his part, told Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin in a meeting yesterday that he is determined either to expand the coalition, or to force early national elections.
Negotiating teams from the Likud and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) said that the two parties have made much progress in coalition talks and predict an agreement within a week.
Shinui Party leader Justice Minister Tommy Lapid accused UTJ MKs of floating trial balloons in the hope of forcing Shinui out of the government coalition. UTJ spokesmen have made statements of late implying that Likud agreed to the religious party's demands with regard to synagogue-and-state issues. Lapid explained that statements by UTJ officials following negotiations are intended to apply pressure on Shinui to leave the coalition.
Likud officials confirmed that they had agreed to remove amendments to the Tal Law dealing with the exemption of yeshiva students from the draft, as well as the clause regarding a Civil Marriage Law, from the coalition agreement with UTJ.
Lapid emphasized that his party will not abandon efforts to move ahead with the Civil Marriage Law, and will not walk away from achievements made during the current administration in reducing religious influence on Israeli society. Chief negotiator Avraham Poraz told the Maariv newspaper that Shinui "will not participate in any government not committed to passing the civil marriage acts and the Tal law amendment."
Following reports that the Likud had given in to UTJ, MK Ophir Pines (Labor) announced that he would work to see Labor and Shinui form a joint front with regard to coalition negotiations.
Labor party leader MK Shimon Peres announced that there cannot be a coalition government promoting peace without the inclusion of Labor. This reality, he added during a gathering of party activists in the Galilee, places a heavy responsibility on Labor. He explained that Labor has made "minimum demands" that must be met in order for the party to agree to join the government. In addition, Peres attacked Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's economic policies, accusing him of ignoring the weaker segments of society.
In the meantime, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, also of the Labor party, yesterday announced his firm opposition to Labor joining a national unity coalition government. Barak is calling on party leaders to remain in opposition and offer the nation a clear alternative to the policies of the current Likud-led government.
Prime Minister Sharon, for his part, told Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin in a meeting yesterday that he is determined either to expand the coalition, or to force early national elections.