Is leftist coalition in cards?
In television interview, acting PM says parties unwilling to back his plan for further West Bank withdrawals would not be able to join future coalition; there will be no more rebels, Olmert says
Speaking in a Channel 10 interview, Olmert said that "whoever is not ready to be a party to the convergence plan, a party to the political agenda, would not be able to become a coalition partner.
"There will be no more rebels," the acting PM said, referring to so-called Likud "rebels" who resisted ailing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza and northern West Bank pullout.
"This experience of a government and a coalition system extorted by rebels who undermine the people from inside and work against it will not be tolerated by me. We have learned our lesson. That's exactly why we established Kadima," Olmert added.
“We need to initiate processes, and not turn Israel into a hostage of the Palestinians,” Olmert said. “We can’t have someone determine a timetable for us or decide for us when things will or will not happen. We need to take our fate in our own hands."
"There is absolutely no reason why we should not make decisions that are good for Israel at a time like this. Four years are a very short period when you don’t want to do anything, but they’re a very long time when you want to get things done,” he said.
Shas: There won't be another pullout
Olmert's remarks appeared to disqualify right-wing party Israel Our Home and religious party Shas, expected to play a deciding factor in the upcoming elections, from taking part in a future Kadima coalition.
Sash Chairman Eli Yishai told Ynet in response that "Shas prefers a right-wing government and is against additional unilateral disengagements. And anyway, Olmert will not carry out a pullout. This is only an election campaign."
"We are against it now and we will be against it after the elections. Olmert's plan is unfeasible. The people won't tolerate it," Yishai said.
The Shas leader added that "this is a plan that will boost terror and give Hamas everything for free."
He warned that "the National Religious Party will enter such a government, and will demand as a condition to conduct a referendum for implementing the disengagements."
Still, Yishai left the door open for future negotiations, saying that when the time comes Shas will bring the issue to its Council of Torah Sages, who will know how to guide the faction.
Last week it was revealed that Shas members met with Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, but Yishai is also known to be in contact with Olmert, and it was said that Olmert’s withdrawal plan did not affect plans for future cooperation between Shas and Kadima.
