Last update - 00:00 29/01/2007
PM to meet with Yosef to obtain Shas' support for 'Peres Law'
By Mazel Mualem, Gideon Alon and Yoval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondents
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is willing to meet with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in an effort to persuade the spiritual leader of Shas to withdraw his opposition to making the Knesset vote on the president of the state an open ballot. A Knesset majority for the amendment to the Basic Law on the President is not assured. The change was approved on Sunday by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, but the bill will not be submitted to the Knesset plenum for a preliminary reading, as planned. Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who has hinted in the past that he wishes to be the next president, made his candidacy conditional on the amendment because he believes his chances would be better in an open ballot. Associates of Peres, however, believe he would submit his candidacy even if the vote remains secret.
Aides to Olmert recently contacted persons in Yosef's circle about a meeting between the two at the rabbi's Jerusalem home, which now seems likely to take place. Senior Shas officials said Sunday that the party would never support the amendment, which they fear could set a precedent for making other votes open, such as those for selecting rabbinical court judges.
Associates of Olmert and Peres believe that if Shas can be persuaded to support the amendment it will likely precipitate the support of Yisrael Beiteinu and many Labor MKs.
There is currently a solid majority against the amendment, a change to which requires only a simple majority in favor. In addition to the opposition parties, most of the MKs from Labor, Yisrael Beiteinu and the Pensioners Party are against the "Peres Law," as are some Kadima MKs. The main argument against the amendment is that it is wrong to change a Basic Law for a specific person or circumstance.
According to the coalition agreement between Kadima and its partners in the government, any change to any of the Basic Laws must be agreed upon by all coalition members. Thus Olmert cannot force the coalition parties to support the amendment. If the bill is brought before the Knesset and voted down, it cannot be reintroduced for another six months.
In Sunday's ministerial committee vote, the amendment passed by only seven votes to five. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni voted in favor of the motion, as did Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Interior Minister Roni Bar-On, Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson, Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Yaakov Edrey, Environment Minister Gideon Ezra (Kadima) and Health Minister Yaakov Ben Yizri (Pensioners).
Voting against were Housing Minister Meir Sheetrit (Kadima), minister without portfolio Eitan Cabel, Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon (Labor), Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) and minister without portfolio Meshulam Nahari (Shas).
Amendment sponsor MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) said after the ministerial committee vote that it would create positive momentum before the Knesset plenum vote. He said he intended to meet with the heads of all Knesset factions in order to ensure a majority for the amendment within a few weeks.