The final agreement paving the way for the inclusion the Center Party in the government will apparently be signed next week. MK Michael Kleiner, whose one-man Herut faction left the National Union party in February 2000, congratulated Center Party leader Dan Meridor for deciding to join the government. Kleiner sees the move as giving hope for a firmer military response by Prime Minister Sharon: \"I hope that the National Religious Party and [David Levy\'s] Gesher party will follow his example,\" Kleiner said today, \"and give Sharon the political backing for a firm response to the Palestinians. The option of a stable coalition without the Labor Party increases the chances that Sharon will give a proper response to the Palestinians.\"
Labor similarly sees Meridor\'s move in this light, and its legal counsel yesterday declared the move illegal for being carried out without Labor\'s permission. Party leader Shimon Peres toned down this response somewhat, saying that it would have been better had Sharon consulted with his \"senior partner\" in the unity government beforehand. In addition, some in the Likud party itself see the inclusion of Meridor, a known opponent of Binyamin Netanyahu, as a way of blocking the latter\'s return as head of the party.
Labor similarly sees Meridor\'s move in this light, and its legal counsel yesterday declared the move illegal for being carried out without Labor\'s permission. Party leader Shimon Peres toned down this response somewhat, saying that it would have been better had Sharon consulted with his \"senior partner\" in the unity government beforehand. In addition, some in the Likud party itself see the inclusion of Meridor, a known opponent of Binyamin Netanyahu, as a way of blocking the latter\'s return as head of the party.