With just 11 days left until
Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni has
to present the Knesset with her new government, her aides reported Thursday she has begun growing impatient with Shas' stalling
its decision on whether or not it intends to join her coalition.
Livni has offered the haredi party and United Torah Judaism an
attractive coalition
deal, amounting to nearly NIS 1 billion (approximately $257 million), but Shas has turned her down.
| Pushing It? |
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| Shas rejects Kadima proposal / Attila Somfalvi |
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After consulting with party's spiritual leader, Chairman Eli Yishai rejects coalition proposal put forward by Tzipi Livni; Kadima officials say negotiations to continue |
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Sources in Shas told Ynet that the decision to turn the offer down was made after party head Eli Yishai consulted with its spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Yishai was also quoted as saying that Shas "will not cave in to threats. No one puts a gun to our head or gives us ultimatums. If Livni brings a narrow coalition before the Knesset we will vote against it."
According to sources close to the negotiations, Livni has no intention of making any future gestures as far as Shas is concerned; telling several senior Kadima members she was not completely convinces that Shas wants to become a part of the coalition.
She also reportedly added that she was very close to deciding on whether or not she would present the Knesset with a narrow the coalition, or opt for an early election instead.
On other negotiation front, Kadima's overtures toward Meretz seem
to be faring better: Meretz-Yahad Chairman Chaim Oron said Wednesday that the two parties have made significant progress and
are close to reaching an agreement.
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