Peretz threatens government
Labor Party Chairman says if meeting not held soon, unity government could be brought down even sooner than earlier stated
Newly elected Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz has launched an offensive against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying that he was unimpressed with the delay of a meeting with the prime minister, and threatening to bring down the government shortly. Some inthe political arena believe that the country is headed towards elections, and all that is left is to find the way for calling for a national vote.
"At the end of the week there won't be a government," Knesset Member Yuli Tamir, who is close to newly elected Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz, told Ynet.
She added: "I hope that Sharon invites Amir and together they can choose the best date for the elections. It's clear to everyone that the government has come to the end of the road."
"If a meeting with Sharon does not take place at the start of the week, we could work to bring down the government on Wednesday," threatened newly elected Labor Party Chairman, Amir Peretz, on Channel Two's Meet The Press program.
On Wednesday, the Knesset will meet and examine four attempts to dissolve it, one of which was initiated by Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party).
Peretz said that "Knesset Member Orlev promised to coordinate the lodging of the proposal with me."
He added: "A strange thing is happening. In the course of two days I asked to speak with Sharon on the phone, because a meeting which was supposed to take place on Sunday was delayed until Thursday. Sharon acted irresponsibly when he delayed the meeting. I also know political tricks, and intend on keeping my cards close to my chest."
Peretz said that a "date for the new elections needed to be decide." He ruled out Labor supporting Likud's budget, saying: "There's no need to talk about a budget today, or about passing the budget."
Continuing his offensive against the prime minister, Peretz said: "I don't intend to prolong this period in which Sharon treats all the parties as if they are his puppets. It's over. Sharon needs to understand that I am willing to do everything with him for an agreement for the good of Israel in order to prevent uncertainty."
Peretz also declared that "if Sharon is elected prime minister during the next elections, the Labor party will not join the Sharon government even if the Finance Ministry is offered to us. The era of unity governments is at an end, it's not good for democracy."
"Arab minister needed"
In the televised interview, Peretz responded to a question about the inclusion of Arab parties in a future coalition, saying: "The Arabs are not ruled out of any coalition. I think that if an Arab agrees to be a minister in the government, it would decrease tensions in the country. I think that a Jewish majority must to everything so that the minority feels good, because a majority must justify its presence as a majority by treating the minority well."
A source close to Peretz later said that "if the prime minister continues to play for the time, he'll find that the train will have left the station without him. If Sharon insists that the meeting be held on Thursday and not at the start of the week as promised, and if he continued to place uncertainty on the market and on the Israeli public, he may find different facts facing him on Thursday."
The source added that Peretz is planning a surprising maneuver should Sharon not meet him earlier, but refused to disclose details, saying that "the move would shock the Israeli political system to the foundation."
Likud faction chairman Gideon Sa'ar said that the appearance of Amir Peretz on Channel Two's Meet The Press program exposed his extremist plans to the public.
"Peretz's declaration on his intent to set up a coalition with Arab, anti-Zionist parties symbolize the fall of Zionism and morality in the Labor party, which want to set up a government together with Ahmed Tibi and Azmi Bishara," he said.
"We don't understand the fuss"
Sources close the prime minister "don't understand the fuss Peretz is creating ahead of (Wednesday's) vote (on dissolving the Knesset)."
An aide to Sharon said that a meeting was scheduled between the prime minister and Peretz on Thursday, because the prime minister's schedule is busy. "On Monday and Tuesday, the prime minister is taking part in state functions commemorating Yitzhak Rabin. Should the Israeli people go to the ballot because the prime minister couldn't manage a meeting due to his schedule? Does the Labor party want to violate its coalition agreement in a unilateral move? The prime minister has a schedule to run the country, so Mr. Peretz can be so kind as to wait," a source told Ynet.
After the result of the Labor primaries became apparent, Sharon held meetings with Coalition Chairman Knesset Member Gideon Sa'ar, and received updates. Sharon's source added: "It is possible to decide how to end coalition agreements between the parties in an organized manner, and to also proceed to elections in an orderly fashion."
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
