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Ariel Sharon (centre) needs new coalition partners
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has begun talks with extreme right-wing and religious parties to prop up his teetering government after his major coalition partner pulled out.
The government was left close to collapse after the Labor Party, led by former Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, withdrew in a row over funding for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Mr Sharon said he would continue leading the country, suggesting he would not call an election.
The BBC's James Reynolds in Jerusalem says that, for now, it is not certain that the nationalist parties will accept Mr Sharon's invitation, which means he may have to press on for the moment with a minority administration.
Mr Sharon's narrow ad-hoc coalition faces its first crucial test in a no-confidence vote which the left-wing Meretz Party has tabled for Monday.
Extreme right
Israel radio reported that Mr Sharon has made contact with the ultra-nationalist National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Party, which commands seven seats in the Knesset (parliament), enough to restore the prime minister's majority. Its chairman, Avigdor Lieberman, however, has previously made clear his party would prefer elections rather than join Mr Sharon's Government.
Israeli media reported that Mr Sharon was planning to appoint the hawkish former army chief of staff Shaul Mofaz as his new defence minister and himself as foreign minister.
Mr Mofaz has previously advocated the expulsion of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from the Palestinian territories.
Resignations
The crisis was triggered by the resignations on Wednesday of Mr Ben-Eliezer, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Culture Minister Matan Vilnai.
It came after talks failed to satisfy Labor's demands that Mr Sharon divert about $145m earmarked for Jewish settlements to jobs and social services instead. The resignations do not officially take effect until Friday.
Mr Ben-Eliezer said the government had abandoned the peace process with the Palestinians and had abandoned Israel's poor.
"We have reached a situation where we have done everything possible militarily and we have reached the moment where the government must present its political vision," he told parliament.
Likud members accused Mr Ben-Eliezer of sacrificing the government for his political career, as he faces a challenge from two more dovish candidates for the Labor leadership in a primary on 19 November.
The budget was put to parliament after the Labor ministers resigned and was passed on its first reading by 67 to 45 votes with the support of opposition parties.
US silent
Co-opting a number of small, nationalist parties would change the complexion of Mr Sharon's Government, moving it further to the right at the risk of angering the United States. Washington has refused to comment on the crisis, but the Bush administration has made it clear that it wants a period of quiet from Israel in order not to divert attention from possible action against Iraq.
Palestinian officials voiced anxiety about a narrower coalition emerging in the Israeli Government.
"It appears that the Israeli political class is distancing itself more and more from the quest for peace," said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
If his new government proves untenable, Mr Sharon may have no choice but to call elections within 90 days.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2379693.stm