Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., October 25, 2008 Tishrei 26, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:31 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Peres Center Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  99
Last update - 08:38 25/10/2008
Livni camp: Shas has deceived the entire country
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel news, Tzipi Livni 

Sources close to Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni said Friday that the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party had "deceived the entire country" through their refusal to join a coalition government, after spending weeks making it appear that they would sign such an agreement with Livni.

Kadima sources also blamed internal disagreements within Shas for the party's refusal to sign a coalition agreement.

Shas officials announced on Friday that it would not join a coalition led by Livni, ending weeks of uncertainty and making early elections almost inevitable.
Advertisement
Following the announcement of the breakdown in talks, Livni aides said on Friday that all contacts between the two sides have been severed, and that there are ongoing discussions of a possible return to the negotiating table.

"Up through Thursday night, Shas led us to believe that there is progress and that it was possible to close the deal," a Livni associated said.

Aides to the Kadima chairwoman said there was absolutely no reason to rebuff what they considered a reasonable offer from Livni on the issue of child allowances for large families.

Aides say Livni also broached the subject of Jerusalem, which Shas has demanded remain off the negotiating table in talks with the Palestinians. In an effort to reach a creative compromise solution, Livni reportedly proposed that Yishai publicly deliver of letter listing his reservations on the matter.

In light of Shas' refusal to join the coalition, Livni advisors are investigating the possibility of an alternative government without Shas, one that would rest on the support of Labor, Meretz, the Pensioners, and all of, or a faction of, United Torah Judaism. Such a coalition would also need to rely on support from opposition MKs.

Livni associates are divided over the question of forming a slim-majority government or declaring early elections at this stage.

Livni set an ultimatum on Thursday, giving her potential coalition partners three days to join a new government under her leadership or face the prospect of new elections.

In response to the Shas announcement, Livni spokesman Gil Messing said Friday only that the ultimatum still stood.

Shas spokesman Roy Lachmanovich said in a statement on Friday that the
party was unable to reach agreement with Livni's Kadima party over two main issues - the status of Jerusalem and social welfare benefits for the poor.

"Shas has asked only for two things ... real financial help for the [economically] weak in Israeli society and protection for Jerusalem ... which is not merchandise for sale."

Lachamnovich said that as a result, the party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who heads a group of sages who determine party policy, decided not to continue coalition talks.

"Shas cannot be bought and Shas will not sell out on Jerusalem. This has been our consistent line throughout negotiations," said Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, trade and industry minister in the outgoing government.

"If there could have been a commitment that there will not be negotiations over Jerusalem ... We could have recommended to the party to approve a deal," Yishai said.

On Thursday, it was reported that Livni had said she would discuss a demand from Shas to extend the rabbinical courts' jurisdiction to civil disputes between couples to try to persuade the ultra-Orthodox party to join the coalition.

Consequently, Shas reported some progress in the coalition negotiations on Thursday. Shas had previously demanded expanding the rabbinical courts' jurisdiction during 2006 coalition negotiation with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

However Olmert, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog objected to this demand, which they said would infringe on the secular public's rights and undermine the status quo.

Shas had recently raised this demand in talks with Livni, arguing that an agreement on this issue had already been reached and must be kept.

Livni also agreed to revoke the reduction in the yeshiva budget, estimated at NIS 400 million, for 2009. However, Shas is still dissatisfied with Livni's offer regarding child allowances. Shas is demanding NIS 1 billion while Livni is willing to give NIS 600 million in the 2009 budget and give Shas NIS 350 million for sectorial needs detailed in the coalition agreement.

With two days to go before Livni's deadline, the possibility of a deal
remained open. The Shas statement - like Livni's ultimatum - might be mainly a bargaining tactic.

Polls indicate the right-wing opposition, which has condemned Olmert's peace moves, would win an early parliamentary election. The next scheduled ballot is not until 2010.

Yishai hinted the party could still change its mind, telling Israel Radio that the party had not decided that new elections should be held. "The decision was in Kadima's hands," he said, "and if they don't meet our demands, we won't be able to join."

"Nothing happened. I suggest everyone wait patiently," said MK Otniel Schneller of Livni's Kadima Party.

Related articles:
  • Livni considers more power for rabbinical courts in bid to lure Shas
  • Kadima fumes as Mofaz, Shas meet behind Livni's back
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Palin as Olmert?
    Free flights and life of luxury characterize both the VP hopeful and our outgoing PM
    'Hit a Jew Day'
    St. Louis middle school students face punishment over spirit week game gone bad
      1.   Good for Shas 10:56  |  observer 24/10/08
      2.   Shas & elections 11:04  |  Y 24/10/08
      3.   Elections is what we need 11:17  |  Hans 24/10/08
      4.   Here is an idea: democratic elections 11:21  |  Ilan 24/10/08
      5.   Shas says NO to "LIvni-led "coalition........ 11:35  |  Nora 24/10/08
      6.   Jerusalem Undivided ! 11:50  |  Khaled 24/10/08
      7.   I didn`t intend to vote Kadima. Without Shas I will ! 12:33  |  S 24/10/08
      8.   How about shipping.... 12:49  |  David James Vickery 24/10/08
      9.   she will never agree to new elections 13:27  |  chaim 24/10/08
      10.   The people will decide whether to give away the capital 13:50  |  Realist 24/10/08
      11.   Bib- please listen this is existential 13:59  |  Miche Norman 24/10/08
      12.   Bye-bye Livni 14:11  |  D 24/10/08
      13.   Another disaster waiting to happen... 14:21  |  Jeff 24/10/08
      14.   Kissing the hem of the kittel 14:24  |  Zalman 24/10/08
      15.   Jerusalem of Peace. 14:29  |  Daniel Garcia 24/10/08
      16.   Will Bibi make war? 14:38  |  Mark Lincoln 24/10/08
      17.   War and Peace. 14:48  |  Daniel Garcia 24/10/08
      18.   Shas and Livni 14:49  |  Harold Silver 24/10/08
      19.   Shas has finally redeemed itself. --end -- 14:58  |  Paul 24/10/08
      20.   Kadima is boosted by Shas refusal! 14:59  |  Ulf 24/10/08
      21.   "Shas cannot be bought..." Purim Sameach! 15:09  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 24/10/08
      22.   Shas announces it won`t join Livni-led coalition 15:17  |  Gerald Zang 24/10/08
      23.   Shas is right 15:22  |  Brod 24/10/08
      24.   Yishai Says Shas "Can`t Be Bought" - Yet .... 16:50  |  B`Galil 24/10/08
      25.   Good for Livni and good for israel 16:55  |  Danite 24/10/08
      26.   Livni its time to call new elections, Lets stop the games 16:59  |  Shepherd 24/10/08
      27.   Peres now its time for you to call new elections 17:06  |  Livin In Rishon 24/10/08
      28.   ould we have to have Olmert again in the Chair....? 17:09  |  Dolly 24/10/08
      29.   You unlike Kadima? 17:14  |  Gee 24/10/08
      30.   Livni Camp 17:26  |  DT 24/10/08
      31.   So Hold Early Elections Already 17:26  |  Jeff Northridge 24/10/08
      32.   Shows that there is no majority in Knesset for peace 17:29  |  Shai 24/10/08
      33.   Shas takes the country hostage 17:32  |  Yaron 24/10/08
      34.   livni, this is rich 17:38  |  jeremy 24/10/08
      35.   Livni no one decieved anyone,Israelis want new elections 18:00  |  Sderot will vote 24/10/08
      36.   Livni, Kadima, Shas, Labor are all experts on deception... 18:03  |  bat yam 24/10/08
      37.   Sour Grapes blaming Shas 18:09  |  Brod 24/10/08
      38.   Shas, Livni won`t stand by her word & will go against your wishes 18:10  |  Kipperraes 24/10/08
      39.   # 11 Yaron 18:15  |  Shepherd 24/10/08
      40.   #9 peace overworked again by shai 18:16  |  victor hardman 24/10/08
      41.   #11 no arabs will be able to vote then yaron !! 18:17  |  victor hardman 24/10/08
      42.   To Shai... peace 18:25  |  Avi 24/10/08
      43.   Interesting.... 18:39  |  Esther 24/10/08
      44.   Yaron is 100% CORRECT Eli Yishai is a LIAR 18:46  |  Ari ben Yisrael 24/10/08
      45.   Shas will sell out at the last moment.... 18:46  |  Techsyn 24/10/08
      46.   SHAS DIDN`T DECEIVE ANYONE. NEW ELECTIONS NOW 18:50  |  THE WARRIOR 24/10/08
      47.   Livni talks for no one but herself, elections NOW 18:52  |  zion 24/10/08
      48.   #9 Jeff Northridge. The best MAN won...LIVNI 18:54  |  Ari ben Yisrael 24/10/08
      49.   The bottom line is nobody wants Livni as PM, or Kadima in office. 19:01  |  Jordan 24/10/08
      50.   Good for Livni for not bowing to Shas`s demands 19:26  |  Tzfonit 24/10/08
      51.   Shas did the right thing for the wrong reason 19:48  |  Nechama 24/10/08
      52.   Assuming - scheming Shas does not reneg, and new elections result 19:53  |  bat yam 24/10/08
      53.   Deception?Thy name is Kadima 19:55  |  Arie 24/10/08
      54.   Kadima and Shas 20:02  |  Robert Haymond 24/10/08
      55.   Welcome to reality Livni! 20:03  |  Dutch Dirk 24/10/08
      56.   Livni is an amateur and was simply out maneuvered. 20:11  |  redmike 24/10/08
      57.   Sorry, but your post is completely confused .. 20:15  |  redmike 24/10/08
      58.   Shas has not deceived, Shas has been straight. 20:16  |  Stephen. 24/10/08
      59.   Kadima and Shas 20:56  |  Robert Haymond 24/10/08
      60.   The Voice of the People for a change...... 21:30  |  Dagma 24/10/08
      61.   To Shai Raanana # 16 - Accept it - No Peace 22:29  |  Josephus 24/10/08
      62.   Livni makes me sick 22:36  |  Nemesis 24/10/08
      63.   Jeff Northridge 23:18  |  TonyL 24/10/08
      64.   Livni is an amateur and was simply out maneuvered. 23:20  |  redmike 24/10/08
      65.   What is wrong with you! 23:25  |  Duvid 24/10/08
      66.   When are elections deceptive? 23:52  |  Avi 24/10/08
      67.   Livni vs. $ha$ 23:57  |  Jim 24/10/08
      68.   #6 Khaled 00:26  |  Jim 25/10/08
      69.   To Shai @ 18 - Palestinians have missed their boat 01:38  |  Truth 25/10/08
      70.   ONCE MORE THE POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK 01:39  |  v.hardman 25/10/08
      71.   it never stops 02:27  |  natan 25/10/08
      72.   Kissing 02:52  |  Baz Mann 25/10/08
      73.   a happy couple 03:00  |  ron 25/10/08
      74.   redmike #64 03:55  |  ron 25/10/08
      75.   LIVNI IS A CLOUN, OF ISRAEL`S LEFT 05:24  |  Like it is 25/10/08
      76.   Brod, I bet you never heard of Shas until it came up recently... 06:29  |  BBSNews 25/10/08
      77.   It is forbidden to be merciful to them!! 07:18  |  salem awaad 25/10/08
      78.   "Deceived the entire nation" 07:34  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
      79.   #33, Yaron 07:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      80.   #7, S 07:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      81.   #31, Jeff Northridge 07:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      82.   The people of Israel will Judge by what Kadima gave them.. 07:53  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
      83.   question to those who want elections 07:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      84.   Jerusalem belong to all,Jews,Muslims and Christians 09:05  |  gus 25/10/08
      85.   Livni camp: Shas has deceived the entire country" 09:16  |  Esther 25/10/08
      86.   Dutch Dirk (#54) seems to get his jollies (quite consistently) 09:17  |  Robert Haymond 25/10/08
      87.   Cipora #80 09:24  |  S 25/10/08
      88.   83# A good question Cipora. 10:09  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
      89.   They only deceived you, you idiot woman 10:36  |  Moti 25/10/08
      90.   #88, dear akram, yes, but you are dreaming 11:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      91.   Elections NOW - Show the world the "true" 12:07  |  spyguy 25/10/08
      92.   Israel needs a Leader Arabs will respect and fear..... 12:12  |  Dolly 25/10/08
      93.   #80 - CJK you are going to get Bibi 12:16  |  spyguy 25/10/08
      94.   90# Cipora. The first time you disappoint me and 13:08  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
      95.   To gus # 84 - People who do not understand.... 13:16  |  Natasha 25/10/08
      96.   Expanding religious authority into civil authority - Israel would 13:56  |  Rachel 25/10/08
      97.   #92 Dolly, fear no longer works 15:05  |  spyguy 25/10/08
      98.   90# Cipora 2nd try (shame about the 1st I beg Haarez to Print it) 17:55  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
      99.   90# Cipora 2nd try (shame about the 1st I beg Haarez to Print it) 18:20  |  Akram Zekaria 25/10/08
     Read & React
    Bradley Burston: When Sarah Palin runs for president
    Responses: 147
    'Hit a Jew Day' lands St. Louis students in hot water
    Responses: 271
    New Gallup poll shows 75% of U.S. Jews plan to vote Obama
    Responses: 113
    Peres in Sharm el-Sheikh: Saudi plan can bring peace to Mideast
    Responses: 116
    U.S. Muslims relieved by Powell's attack on anti-Islam rhetoric
    Responses: 181
    Anshel Pfeffer: Should Pius XII be made a saint? Leave that to the Vatican to decide
    Responses: 77


    More Headlines
    19:20 Report: Bush to declare renewal of ties with Iran
    20:29 Livni meets advisers ahead of decision on early election
    15:01 Nasrallah: Rumors I was poisoned are 'psychological warfare'
    17:29 Palestinian security forces deploy in Hebron
    15:15 Report: Pennsylvania Republicans email likens voting for Obama to rise of Hitler
    22:53 Bradley Burston / When Sarah Palin runs for president
    17:36 Dennis Ross on why he's working for Obama and how he'd talk to Iran
    19:45 Ex-Finnish president, Nobel laureate slams boycott of Hamas
    17:34 World's richest Jew loses billions in wake of global financial crisis
    08:39 ANALYSIS / Shas betting on its renewed alliance with Benjamin Netanyahu
    13:10 Three killed in Egypt-Gaza smuggling tunnel collapse
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved