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Shas' Yishai warns Barak against rocking boat
Shas chairman tells Labor head immediate socio-economic changes needed, however excess political agitation unnecessary. Netanyahu meets with Shas spiritual leader in efforts to prevent party from joining Livni's new coalition
Attila Somfalvi
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai met with Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak on Sunday, and told him that in light of Israel's political situation an excess of agitation would be unnecessary at this time. However, Yishai stressed, some socio-economic alterations are required, and should be exacted immediately.
Meanwhile, as part of his efforts to woo the religious faction, Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu met
with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas' spiritual leader, at his residence in Jerusalem.
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"Shas will not forfeit two main cornerstones – the proper handling of socio-economic crises, meaning a solution for a million hungry children, and political issues at the center of which stands Jerusalem," Yishai declared.
Barak, on his part, is scheduled to meet with newly elected Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni on Sunday evening, following her meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, during which he is expected to advise her on the assembly of a new government.
Meanwhile representatives of the different political factions are preparing for a meeting at President Shimon Peres'
Official Residence, where they will present their recommendations for the next government's leader.
Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced that he would recommend Barak, though the defense minister is not actually an eligible candidate for the position as he does not serve as a member of the current Knesset.
"We prefer an emergency government in order to deal with the tasks ahead or, barring that, an immediate general election," he said. However he said the Labor Party has not yet ruled out participating in a government headed by Kadima.
On Saturday Netanyahu met with Barak in order to discuss recent political developments in the wake of Livni's win in the Kadima primaries. Barak said he is interested in the formation of an emergency national unity government, yet Netanyahu rejected this option thus far.
Later Saturday, the offices of both figures said Bibi and Barak spoke for more than an hour and half and discussed the security situation, the diplomatic process, and economic issues on the agenda.
On Thursday Livni met with Eli Yishai at her home in Tel Aviv. Upon leaving Livni's house, Yishai said that
the meeting was pleasant and friendly.
"We analyzed the situation. We did not go down to details of negotiations, but examined the possibilities," Yishai said.
"Shas is interested in the wellbeing of the State of Israel. Governmental stability is also important, but it's more important to know whether there is a plan to form a government in order to continue or in order to form it and then bring in down. We did not discuss negotiations, and as far as I am concerned – there is no government without Shas."
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