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Kadima worries Shas' internal spat may foil coalition talks By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Kadima, Israel News, Shas The Jerusalem District Court threw ultra-Orthodox politics into turmoil Thursday after it barred Aryeh Deri from running for Jerusalem mayor. The move raised concerns that the former Shas chairman might try to regain the party's helm and undermine the standing of its current chairman - Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai. Kadima officials said they believe that Yishai may prefer holding general elections in the near future while his position as chairman is secure. He would thus forgo entering a new coalition government, seeking to avoid elections two years from now when Deri's standing in the party might be stronger. "[The court decision] is bad for [Foreign Minister Tzipi] Livni and good for [Likud leader] Benjamin Netanyahu because Yishai knows he'll be part of a government under Netanyahu," a Kadima official said. Yishai's aides, however, called this analysis "rubbish." Advertisement "The only thing that counts is the child stipends," a Shas representative said. "If Shas gets its funds for impoverished families then it will be in the government, and Livni is welcome to test us." Deri, who retired from politics after being found guilty in 2000 of taking bribes, fraud and breach of trust, is nearing the end of the period in which he is barred from politics. He is still very popular in his party's ranks. Meanwhile, Shas officials said they made some progress in talks with representatives of newly elected Kadima leader Livni. They said they have made their demands to Livni and are waiting for her to act. Another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, was skeptical Thursday over whether it would join a coalition under Livni. The UTJ is asking for child allowances to be increased; it also wants the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee, a position the party had held for years. Livni has met with the committee's current chairman, MK Avishay Braverman, to prevent a fallout with the Labor politician. Livni Thursday continued talks with Labor officials, trying to build on the momentum after an informal dinner with Labor chief Ehud Barak on Wednesday. "If ties between Livni and Barak strengthen, we can solve all the other problems and issues," a Livni aide said. Associates of Barak said the two still disagreed over major issues, particularly Labor's budgetary demands and its opposition to Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's proposed reforms of the judiciary. Related articles: Kadima's new chair will have to decide: Shas or new elections Shas: If Livni wants a coalition, she must fulfill our demands Bookmark to del.icio.us   Forgotten peace French FM: I fear distracted world may forget Mideast peace process. Settlers vs. Shin Bet Daniela Weiss: Shin Bet behind attack on left-wing advocate prof. Sternhell   1.   pray someone spoils livni`s PIECE/Inheritance giving of Isrelis 07:18  |  glenna 03/10/08   2.   Cut the B.S. & call elections immediately! 10:30  |  Wise Saba 03/10/08

Read & React ADL: Financial crisis sparking anti-Semitic upsurge on Internet Responses: 353 UN General Assembly Chief: Some Security Council members are worse than Iran Responses: 99 Yoel Marcus: Israel won't top agenda for either McCain or Obama Responses: 70 Claude Kandiyoti: A red line is needed between Jews, Israel Responses: 97 Hezbollah: Ghajar, Shaba Farms will soon be liberated Responses: 101 Saudi cleric urges Muslim women to cover up all but one eye Responses: 62 More Headlines 00:56 Olmert to head to Russia for talks on missiles sale to Iran 23:26 Settler leader: Shin Bet behind attack on Sternhell 23:48 IAEA passes resolution urging Mideast nations to give up nuclear ambitions 22:26 French FM: I fear Mideast peace process could be forgotten 20:07 Palestinian Authority on alert for Hamas takeover of West Bank 22:12 VP debate / Palin beats the odds, fails to be field dressed by Biden 23:22 Fugee Friday Post III / From war-torn Sudan to a tiny classroom in south Tel Aviv 21:04 Iran: Natural gas conference in Tehran proof U.S., Israel pressure ineffective 15:08 Israel: North Korea supplying weapons to six Mideast states 16:57 Bush: Our economy continues to face serious challenges 19:16 Israeli Arabs mark anniversary of October 2000 riots 09:21 U.S. drops plan to set up diplomatic outpost in Iran 08:53 UN General Assembly chief: Some Security Council members worse than Iran 12:07 Saudi cleric urges Muslim women to cover up all but one eye Previous Editions Select Day 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep

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