Labor MK Ephraim Sneh said today that if the Cabinet passes the proposed budget, "this will be the Likud's way of slamming the door in the face of Labor's entry into a unity government." Other obstacles have also arisen in the way of a Likud-Labor government. These include Shimon Peres' recent statements that Labor will not join a government that includes only Likud and Shas, as well as the upcoming Likud Central Committee session. Many Likud rank-and-file members object to including Labor in the government, and a vote on the matter is likely to be held.
Municipal government leaders of the Labor Party have started their own initiative to try to keep their party out of the unity government. They say that Labor Chairman Shimon Peres and the coalition negotiating team have deceived them, and that "in exchange for seats around the Cabinet table, they have abandoned the social issues and the severe fiscal crisis facing Israel's municipalities." Peres, Chaim Ramon, Dalia Itzik and other Labor MKs are greatly in favor of joining the government, claiming that the implementation of the disengagement/withdrawal plan from Gaza is the most important goal at present.
Knesset faction leader Dalia Itzik, however, has also tempered her enthusiasm over joining the government. "We must carefully consider," she said today, "whether our membership in the government is necessary for the implementation of the disengagement plan. If it is not, then we can remain out of the government... I will tell the Prime Minister that when he is ready to carry out the disengagement, he can call us a week before and we will conduct negotiations."
Municipal government leaders of the Labor Party have started their own initiative to try to keep their party out of the unity government. They say that Labor Chairman Shimon Peres and the coalition negotiating team have deceived them, and that "in exchange for seats around the Cabinet table, they have abandoned the social issues and the severe fiscal crisis facing Israel's municipalities." Peres, Chaim Ramon, Dalia Itzik and other Labor MKs are greatly in favor of joining the government, claiming that the implementation of the disengagement/withdrawal plan from Gaza is the most important goal at present.
Knesset faction leader Dalia Itzik, however, has also tempered her enthusiasm over joining the government. "We must carefully consider," she said today, "whether our membership in the government is necessary for the implementation of the disengagement plan. If it is not, then we can remain out of the government... I will tell the Prime Minister that when he is ready to carry out the disengagement, he can call us a week before and we will conduct negotiations."