Eli Yishai
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Yakov Litzman
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Shas attempts to form haredi bloc
Party Chairman Yishai meets with United Torah Judaism's Litzman in bid to form coalition of 18 Knesset members in negotiations for joining Livni-led government. 'A joint bloc means greater power,' says Yishai associate
Haredi cooperation? Shas
Chairman Eli Yishai met Wednesday with Knesset Member Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism)
in a bid to form a united ultra-Orthodox bloc in the negotiations with newly elected Kadima
Chairwoman Tzipi Livni.
A source close to Minister Yishai said following the meeting that "he has been working to form a bloc with UTJ in terms of the child allowances, which are the key issue for both parties.
The two discussed the possibility of joining a new Livni-led government together.
Coalition Talks
Attila Somfalvi
Aides to Kadima, Labor leaders say any such meeting advances formation of new government
"Yishai is also working to build a join haredi bloc which will enter the government. The Shas chairman attempted to form such a bloc before the Olmert-led government was established, but this attempt failed. A joint bloc means greater power."
The two parties did not name a recommended candidate for forming the next government in their meetings with President Shimon Peres earlier this week. Together, Shas and UTJ have 18 MKs, nearly equaling the Labor Party which has 19 members in the Knesset.
Earlier Wednesday, Yishai appointed Attorney David Glass and Prof. Yohanan Shatsman as his representatives in the coalition talks with Kadima. He instructed them that the Jerusalem issue should not be discussed and that there should be no compromise on the child allowance issue.
Livni and Yishai met on Tuesday and agreed that representatives from both parties would soon meet in an attempt to bridge the ideological gaps between the parties, particularly with regards to socio-economic issues, and draft guidelines for the new government.
During the meeting, Yishai mentioned Jerusalem and child welfare payments, as well as the rise in rent prices.
