Rightists mull Labor's proposal

Meanwhile, the Likud party convened Sunday evening in Tel Aviv and is said to be seriously considering the proposal.

One after one Likud party members arrived at the meeting, and none of them ruled out the possibility of joining a social emergency government proposed by Peretz. Knesset Member Gideon Sa'ar told reporters: “What changed is that the Labor faction called on all factions to join a social emergency government. That’s something that didn't exist yesterday and we have to weigh it.”

MK Gilad Erdan said: “Nothing should be ruled out. There is a faction meeting to decide what to do.” Erdan called for the formation of a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to Likud’s collapse in the election.

The head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Likud MK Yuval Steinitz, sounded cheered up by the latest political developments: “Personally I feel more comfortable with Amir Peretz’ policy, who speaks about negotiations, then with Ehud Olmert’s disengagement plan. I see no coalition yet being formed but things are becoming less and less clear.”

MK Michael Eitan, meanwhile, said: “I think Likud needs to present a decent policy which requires following long-term principles and not sleight of hand.”

However, MK Reuven Rivlin had a different message: “The people decided Likud should serve the nation from benches of the opposition, and we will do so.”

Sunday's meeting was convened in the shadow of tensions between Likud party members after the party’s poor showing in the election. MKs Silvan Shalom and Limor Livnat refused to speak to reporters. The faction first met after the elections last Tuesday, but discussions of the election letdown will not be held during Sunday’s meeting.