Netanyahu. Must not be tempted
Photo: AFP
Barak. Disputed conduct
Photo: Shaul Golan
Likud officials seek alliance with Shas
Senior party members hold intensive talks with haredi party officials in bid to prevent winner in Kadima primaries from forming new government. Meanwhile, sources in Labor criticize Barak's remarks against Livni
Senior Likud
members have been holding intensive talks with top Shas
officials in a bid to prevent the establishment of a new government after the Kadima
primary elections.
The talks' goal is to convince Shas not to join the new government which the new Kadima chairperson will attempt to form after the primaries. As part of the efforts, Likud officials are interested in creating an alliance with the haredi party, similar to the one which existed between the two parties in the past.
Party sources said Thursday evening that Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is keeping his distance from the political squabbles surrounding the primaries, and that most efforts are aimed at wooing Shas Knesset members and sources close to the ultra-Orthodox party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and involved in the Council of Sages.
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Senior Likud sources have said that in light of the recent remarks made by Labor chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the party may also have to look into the possibility of working with Labor in a bid to convince the party to announce general elections rather than join a new government.
"With Ehud Barak one can never know what will happen, but the main goal is to lead to elections in February or March," a Likud official told Ynet.
Meanwhile, some Likud officials have been pressuring Netanyahu not to be tempted to join an emergency government. At the stage Netanyahu rules out such a possibility, but there are those in his party who fear that after the Kadima primaries, an atmosphere will be created which will advance talks for the establishment of such a government "due to the security dangers."
'Barak leading us to dangerous alleys'
There are those in the Labor Party who are unsatisfied with Barak's conduct and statements. Minister Ami Ayalon said Thursday that "in order to lead and be relevant, the Labor Party must present the public with its way to deal with the serious dilemmas the State of Israel is facing, rather than focus on personal attacks."
Ayalon was expected to participate Friday in an assembly against Barak's conduct at the Labor headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Aides to Ayalon noted that he believes Barak is leading the party to a dead end and into "dangerous alleys" which should be avoided. According to the associates, Ayalon was displeased with Barak's interference in the Kadima primaries and with his remarks against Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Meanwhile, several Kadima officials have criticized the fact that Knesset Member Tzachi Hangebi's endorsement of Livni went unnoticed. According to the officials, after Livni called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to draw conclusions and criticized his alleged corruption affairs, there is fault in the fact that she agreed to accept the support of a person who is currently on trial for problematic political appointments.
