Netanyahu and Peres
Moshe Milner, GPO
Netanyahu to ask for continuance on coalition mandate
Prime minister-designate expected to ask Peres for more time to form government; Barak to suggest Labor enter formal coalition talks with Likud
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Shimon Peres on Sunday and ask him for a 14-day continuance in order to form the new government.
The move is apparently also aimed at giving Labor Chairman Ehud Barak a chance to present to the Labor committee on Tuesday his proposal to launch formal coalition negotiations with Likud.
According the Israeli statute, the original presidential mandate of 28 days, which expires on Friday, can be extended by up to a fortnight.
Netanyahu has spoken recently to a number of Labor members in an effort to convince them to support the party's participation in his burgeoning government.
Meanwhile, Labor officials who are against joining a Likud-led coalition are scheduled to meet Thursday night. Some mayors, including Tel Aviv's Ron Huldai, are also expected to attend.
Likud officials had estimated that all of the coalition agreements could be finalized by the end of this week, but so far only Yisrael Beitienu has formally agreed to join Netanyahu's government. Talks with Shas resumed on Tuesday, but an official agreement has yet to be reached.
