Shinui left the coalition last fall after Sharon granted a request by the United Torah Judaism party for 290 million shekels for the party's affiliated education network.
"We want first of all a secular coalition of Shinui, Likud and the Labor parties," said a Shinui party leader. "We want to return to the government" but need something in return, he said. Shinui has said it could "swallow" the 290 million shekel addition that UTJ received if Sharon would concede on other issues, such as military service for Hareidi Jews.
Sharon has six weeks before the March 31 legal deadline that requires new elections if the budget is not passed. If Likud 'loyalists" and Shas MKs vote against the budget, there is no certainty he will have a majority without Shinui.
Aides close to Sharon maintain that Shinui will have no choice but to support the budget rather than be blamed for forcing new elections and delaying the scheduled evacuation of Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria.
The meeting between Lapid and the prime minister originally was scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was delayed after UTJ leaders protested that discussions would take place on the Sabbath.
"We want first of all a secular coalition of Shinui, Likud and the Labor parties," said a Shinui party leader. "We want to return to the government" but need something in return, he said. Shinui has said it could "swallow" the 290 million shekel addition that UTJ received if Sharon would concede on other issues, such as military service for Hareidi Jews.
Sharon has six weeks before the March 31 legal deadline that requires new elections if the budget is not passed. If Likud 'loyalists" and Shas MKs vote against the budget, there is no certainty he will have a majority without Shinui.
Aides close to Sharon maintain that Shinui will have no choice but to support the budget rather than be blamed for forcing new elections and delaying the scheduled evacuation of Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria.
The meeting between Lapid and the prime minister originally was scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was delayed after UTJ leaders protested that discussions would take place on the Sabbath.