Bold prediction? Yishai expects early elections
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Shas leader: Early elections possible
Shas Chairman Yishai says elections possible as early as this year, warns that party will not stay in government even one day should Jerusalem negotiations get underway
Shas
Chairman Eli Yishai said Thursday that general elections may be held as early as this year. Speaking at a convention in northern Israel, Yishai said: "I don't know how long this government will last. I estimate that soon we will have elections."
In light of frozen construction activity in West Bank settlements and in Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Pisgat Ze'ev, Yishai recently turned to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and asked for clarifications on the matter.
Yishai stressed that Shas' spiritual leaders ruled that the party will not stay in the government for even one day should negotiations with the Palestinians on the future of Jerusalem get underway. Yishai called on party representatives present at the convention to prepare for local authority elections in November, and said that the general elections may be held even before that.
Harsh Words
Amnon Meranda
Former coalition chairman delivers on threat to resign if prime minister fails to step down following Winograd Commission reports into failures of Second Lebanon War. 'Olmert is the worst prime minister in Israel's history,' he tells Yedioth Ahronoth
Barak still undecided
On Monday, Shas faction members are expected to tour Jerusalem and signal to PM Olmert that they are serious about their declarations and objections in regards to the handing over of Jerusalem neighborhoods to the Palestinian Authority in the framework of the diplomatic process.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has still not decided on his preferred general elections date. Barak, who earlier this week announced that he will not be quitting the government over the Winograd Commission's report, said that he will make a decision regarding an elections date soon. The Labor leader claimed such move would "unite the Labor faction."
