Shas, Kadima negotiation teams to meet again Sunday

Parties' representatives to discuss ways to distribute funds demanded by Shas, sum Kadima would be willing to give. Foreign Minister Livni expected to ask President Peres for additional time to form government
Attila Somfalvi

Time is almost up – coalition talks continue. Kadima and Shas' negotiation teams are expected to meet Sunday in a bid to reach an agreement that would allow the ultra-Orthodox party to join a new government headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

The meeting will be held Sunday afternoon at the office of Attorney David Glass, Shas' representative to the talks.

Opposition

Netanyahu urges Shas not to join Livni-led coalition / Attila Somfalvi

Likud leader meets Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, fellow party member Erdan says 'if Shas joins this disgraceful government, which legitimizes giving up the Golan and Jerusalem, it would be the final act of betrayal against its constituency'

Full story

In the meeting, the two parties are expected to discuss ways to distribute the funds demanded by Shas, the sum Kadima would be willing to give and the length of time the allowances would be distributed.

After the latest meeting between the two teams, Livni's associates expressed their optimism over the possibility of reaching an understanding with Shas which would allow the haredi party to join the government.

Following a meeting between the Kadima chairwoman and Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, and the talks between the negotiations team, sources involved in the negotiations said that it is clear Shas tends to join the coalition.

A source close to Livni said following the latest meeting, which lasted about four and a half hours, "You don't just sit for nothing for so many hours."

Although there were no reports about a breakthrough in the talks, progress seemed to have been made in terms of finding a formula which would enable Kadima to accept some of Shas' demands that the children allowances be increased.

Meanwhile, Livni is expected to ask President Shimon Peres for an extension of the time she is entitled to in order to form a government, as the first 28 days she received end Monday.

This is a technical procedure and the extension is needed in order to complete the negotiations, particularly in light of the fact that most of the coalition talks were held during the High Holidays, significantly reducing the time available for holding effective negotiations, and in light of the fact that the Kadima chairwoman invested most of her efforts in the first stage in reaching an agreement with the Labor Party.

Labor summit

Also Sunday, Labor Chairman Ehud Barak is scheduled to meet with his predecessor, Knesset Member Amir Peretz as per the former's request. The meeting is expected to focus on political issues.

Sources in the Labor Party estimated that Barak is interested in maintaining an open dialogue channel with Peretz, who has been holding a series of meetings with senior party officials recently.

Although Peretz has kept silent in recent months in order not to clash directly with Barak, he continued to work behind the scenes to strengthen his camp.

Sources close to the former defense minister said that "apparently Barak understands that the real opposition from within is Amir Peretz, and this is why he asks to meet with him. The social camp continues to exist, and Barak knows that."

Several weeks ago, during a member of Labor activists from the kibbutzim, leaders of the Kibbutz Movement called on Barak to include Peretz in the party's leadership as soon as possible and not to leave him out of the picture.