Will Peres be Israel’s next foreign minister?

Snip:

Sharon asks Labor to join unity government
Earlier Monday, Sharon won agreement from veteran opposition leader Shimon Peres to try to forge a unity government that could push through the Gaza Strip pullout.

But Peres's center-left Labor Party went ahead anyway with sponsorship of one of the no-confidence motions.

Confidence votes have recently taken place on a nearly weekly basis in the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, and Sharon has yet to be harmed by any of them.

Sharon faced three no-confidence motions Monday, tying on one and beating back the other two.

Prior to the showdown, Sharon told rebellious members of his Likud Party that he would force new elections if they block his efforts to form a unity government, officials said.

The prime minister faces stiff resistance inside his party from hard-liners opposed both to the withdrawals and a partnership with the more dovish Labor Party. Sharon currently leads a minority government after defections by hard-line parties.

Key sticking points remain
Key sticking points remain to be overcome between Sharon and Peres.

Labor expects to be given senior Cabinet posts, including that of foreign minister for Peres. However, senior Likud ministers now holding these jobs have threatened to stir a rebellion in the party if removed from their posts.

The no-confidence vote occurred as U.S. Mideast envoys were in the region to discuss the Gaza withdrawal plan. White House officials Elliot Abrams and Steve Hadley were to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Monday and with Sharon on Tuesday, an Embassy spokesman said.

Sharon and Peres met privately for an hour Monday morning. Both sides said the talks had gone well.

“The prime minister turned to Shimon Peres and asked him to open negotiations on Labor joining the government. He asked that they begin as soon as possible,” said Yoram Dori, a spokesman for Peres.

Peres was to meet with Labor lawmakers later Monday to discuss the invitation. A decision is to be made at a party meeting Tuesday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5421909

Pathetic!

I read today that Sharon would make sure that Shalom remained FM in any kind of coalition government. I hope that is the case.

[I am David]

Hopefully not. Hopefully no part of Labor will have any significant control in a unity government. Especially not in Finance, they would make Bibi's job impossible.

[Gilgamesh]

Originally Posted by I am David

Hopefully not. Hopefully no part of Labor will have any significant control in a unity government. Especially not in Finance, they would make Bibi's job impossible.

There is not such thing as a labour party. It's an empty shell. A collection of different indeviduals unable to share power information or join forces with each other. They have got no agenda they can agree on all togather, and each of the labour members got different power source they represent, different lobby that back them up. The labour is in a state of rapid disintegration.

Peres, pushes to line his party up with the European left. (While Bibi, lines his faction up with the American right). Peres wants French Socialism and "peace process" according to directions he get from Europe.

The left, in Israel, is dead. Sharon killed it. Only the far left remains.

Hello! Can you hear me now? Hello! Hello!

Young Guard's phone lines cut for anti-Peres talk
By JPOST.COM STAFF

Labor party officials cut off the phone lines of heads of the Young Guard, after phone conversations were screened in which the speakers articulated disapproval of Labor party chairman Shimon Peres.

According to sources in the Young Guard, Labor Party Director-General Rafi Elul directly admitted to them that the act was done with Peres's knowledge and authorization, Army Radio reported.

A spokesperson for the party responded that the phone equipment was provided to members of the Young Guard for the sole purpose of raising the number of mandates, and not for renegade political activity.

[KSO]

Originally Posted by Gilgamesh

The left, in Israel, is dead. Sharon killed it. Only the far left remains.

Sharon killed the "Left" By the brilliant act of being as left as possible in Israeli politics (at least in talking and that's what's count here)

Originally Posted by KSO

Sharon killed the "Left" By the brilliant act of being as left as possible in Israeli politics (at least in talking and that's what's count here)

I can't remember where I read it but decades ago, when Sharon was running for the Knesset under his own little party flag, he asked Yossi Sarid to join his ticket. I don't recall if that was in '73 or in '77.

[KSO]

Originally Posted by Oh Jerusalem

I can't remember where I read it but decades ago, when Sharon was running for the Knesset under his own little party flag, he asked Yossi Sarid to join his ticket. I don't recall if that was in '73 or in '77.

77 but that sais more about Sarid than Sharon...

Originally Posted by KSO

77 but that sais more about Sarid than Sharon...

I very much disagree.

Sarid has never changed his spots.

[KSO]

Originally Posted by Oh Jerusalem

I very much disagree.

Sarid has never changed his spots.

Don't annoy me man I'm in Jerusalem right now and I'm Hungry...

Originally Posted by KSO

Don't annoy me man I'm in Jerusalem right now and I'm Hungry...

Supersize it!

[Gilgamesh]

Originally Posted by KSO

Sharon killed the "Left" By the brilliant act of being as left as possible in Israeli politics (at least in talking and that's what's count here)

And it worked, didn't it? But he hadn't invented this trick.

The Labour, as far as in 1992, understood they cannot win the election by waving the surrender now and pro terror ideology. So they hidden it out. Electing a general (like Rabin, later Barak) who presented it's party as Likud B, in matters of fighting Arab terrorism. The tirck worked and the Labour were hasting to black eye their voters and spit on their other eye.

As for Sharon... I am quite sure he cannot actualize his plans, and he knows it. The disengagement plan is a smoke screen a la Sun Tzu. Wether he ment it or not, is some other story.

[sharonbn]

I find it funny when people here dance on the "grave" of the labor party when the prime minister and head of likud party repeatedly lose the elections in his own party (see referendum on disengagement, see vote on joining labor)

Time and time again Sharon ask for vote of confidence from his party members and followers. Time and time again his party gives Sharon a vote of no-confidence. Time and time again sharon simply ignores his party and goes on with his plans. No wonder he feels more at home with labor.

The biggest problem of the Likud today is not the labor party, it is the Likud party.
The likud is a sham. It is nothing more than a facade. It is not functioning as a ruling party. It is not functioning as a party at all. Instead, various power centers with personal agenda all push and pull to get as much out of the "cake" of gov't positions and funds. All this makes the era of Mapaii seem as the symbol of clean gov't. (and I'm not giving Mapaii a compliment here)

I guess offense is the best defense.

[Mediocrates]

I find it funny you gleefully dance on the ashes of your own political system. Better to make the other guy look stupid than accomplish anything. And it's no beauty contest, believe you me between Labor and Likud in terms of accomplishing something.

But then again I have a VERY dark sense of humor.....

[sharonbn]

Originally Posted by Mediocrates

I find it funny you gleefully dance on the ashes of your own political system. Better to make the other guy look stupid than accomplish anything. And it's no beauty contest, believe you me between Labor and Likud in terms of accomplishing something.

But then again I have a VERY dark sense of humor.....

the political system is only good as the politicians who play in it. The rules of the game are sound and stable, but the players keep bending and breaking them with increasing lack of shame.