_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brenner")
Peretz and Beilin
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Peretz to Beilin: Join rightist coalition
Labor's Peretz wants Meretz's Beilin to join forces with right in bid to circumvent Kadima
The Labor party is attempting to convince leftist Meretz to join a coalition that includes right-wing parties in a bid to circumvent Kadima and see Amir Peretz emerge as Israel's next prime minister, Ynet has learned.
If there is something not liked by Labor these days, it is the accusations by Kadima party members that the Labor party is attempting to set up a right-wing, radical coalition.
Elections 2006
Attilla Somfalvi
Secretary-General Cabel says party looking to form ‘emergency social coalition’ headed by Peretz. Kadima’s Ramon says ‘it seems Labor will join forces with radical right to form government.’ MK Bar-On: Convergence plan to be integral part of next government
Kadima's Haim Ramon made the remarks Sunday Kadima members met with President Moshe Katsav.
Shortly after the meeting, Labor Party officials said they were working to set up "an emergency social government."
Over the weekend, Ynet learned that the Labor party is indeed working to set up a government with the Likud, National Union-NRP, Shas, United Torah Judaism, the Pensioners party, and Meretz, but without Israel Our Home.
Right-wing parties are not denying contacts have been held, while some Likud members also support the idea.
Peretz: I never ruled out Likud
On Sunday morning, Amir Peretz met with Meretz' Yossi Beilin, and Ynet was told that the Labor Party Chairman tried to convince Beilin to join a right-wing coalition.
Peretz explained that he supports Beilin's position against joining a government with Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Our Home, but other right-wing parties – including the Likud – are not ruled out.
In the course of the conversation, Beilin tried to talk Peretz out of the maneuver, but apparently without success. Beilin made it clear that Meretz would not sit in the same government with rightist parties, yet it appears Peretz believes he can nonetheless form a government and lead to changes in the country's priorities.
In closed conversations held by Peretz, he refused to rule the Likud out, as he did during the elections. When asked about his apparent about-face, Peretz said he never ruled the Likud out.
You should pay attention to what I said: I said that if they accept our positions, then there won't be a problem. Then we can advance a revolution, Peretz said.
