Significant progress made in Kadima-Labor talks

Another attempt to form a coalition. Labor Chairman Ehud Barak met Saturday night with Knesset Member Tzachi Hanegbi (Kadima) in a bid to bridge the differences revealed in the coalition talks.

Barak was originally scheduled to meet with Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, but the meeting was postponed.

Hanegbi arrived at Barak's house at around midnight, and the two discussed the key issues of the coalition talks. Significant progress was made on several issues, including the diplomatic negotiations and economic matters, aides to Livni said.

Kadima officials estimated that an agreement could be reached within several days.

During the meeting, Barak expressed his concern over the fact that Kadima has yet to get Shas to join the government. The defense minister stressed that Labor was not interested in being part of a narrow government.

Earlier Saturday, Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Ofer Eini discussed the socio-economic issues still on the agenda with former Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon. Livni's associates said after the meeting that no significant achievements were made.

Both sides are eager to bring the negotiations to a close. On Friday, negotiators for the two parties met to begin drafting the conditions agreed upon so far towards bringing Labor into a Livni-led government.

'Agreement possible in coming week'

Kadima officials insist much progress has been made towards this end, in particular in terms of the cooperation between Livni and Barak.

Labor officials appeared somewhat more reticent, saying there was not enough headway in some of the pressing issues, including the matter of the Justice Ministry and the negotiations with the Palestinians.

The parties' representatives are to meet again on Sunday to continue committing what has been agreed upon to paper.

A source in Kadima's negotiations team told Ynet on Saturday night, "Progress has been made on all issues, on one level or another. We are meeting to advance the issue, and the goal is, eventually, to finalize as much as possible fast."

Sources close to Livni estimated that the negotiations could be finalized very soon, and that an agreement between Kadima and Labor may even be reached in the coming week.