Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 08, 2008 Adar1 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:15 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai. (Jini) Last update - 13:05 08/02/2008 Shas preparing for elections it expects will be held this year By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert, Israel, Shas  Shas chairman Eli Yishai has begun preparing his party for elections, believing they may be held before the end of the year. Yishai reiterated the order by the party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, to quit Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government immediately if Jerusalem is discussed in the talks with the Palestinians. " Advertisement I don't know how long this government will keep going; I assume there will be elections soon, perhaps even before the local authorities' elections scheduled for November," Yishai said on Wednesday at a meeting of Shas activists in Tiberias. Yishai said in private conversations that now that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had "survived" the Winograd Report and managed to keep the Labor Party in the government, he would advance a deal to release abducted soldier Gilad Shalit and accelerate the talks with the Palestinians. Yishai assumes that Olmert will try to reach the next elections with an outline for the final-status agreement with the Palestinians, including all the core issues such as Jerusalem, which Shas regards as a reason to quit the government. Yishai believes that Olmert will try to turn the elections into a kind of referendum on the agreement. Senior Shas figures have recently expressed fears that Olmert might launch a diversion to distract attention from the Jerusalem issue and to keep Shas in the government. They said they had grounds to believe that Olmert already had an agreement with the Palestinians, with which he would run in elections. Shas has hardened its positions vis-a-vis the peace process after Yisrael Beiteinu left the government due to Olmert's willingness to discuss the core issues with the Palestinians. Yishai is signaling to Olmert that Shas' threats to quit the government over Jerusalem are serious. Related articles: PM: Delay talks on Jerusalem to avoid derailing peace process Shas rabbis: Party will quit coalition immediately if J'lem discussed Minister Ayalon appeals to Shas leader to remain in coalition Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baghdad, Interrupted Movie star Angelina Jolie takes on Iraq as UN goodwill ambassador. Unwanted praise Hezbollah leader Nasrallah compliments on the Winograd Committee report.   1.   Shas are immoral liars 06:02  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 08/02/08   2.   I`m very sad by Shas`s inability to leave this Gov`t 07:53  |  Avi 08/02/08   3.   I can only hope Shas is serious. 08:03  |  bat yam 08/02/08   4.   As a religious orthodox Jew I want Shas to know that I will never 10:42  |  Jew 08/02/08   5.   Shas = Least worst 11:53  |  Allon 08/02/08   6.   Shas and Jerusalem 11:55  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 08/02/08   7.   Be Prepared - Olmert is ready to do ANYTHING 17:12  |  Dolly 08/02/08   8.   Shas: Israel`s ticket to Western Acceptance 18:34  |  Yechiel 08/02/08   9.   God helps those who helps themselves so leave the olmert regime 18:52  |  zionist forever 08/02/08

Today Online Syria upgrades missiles thanks to Iranian support Responses: 170 Palestinian PM: Peace deal with Israel 'unlikely' this year Responses: 66 Editorial: Open the Rafah crossing Responses: 66 B. Weinthal: Germany is the logical place to start embargo of Iran Responses: 45 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza Responses: 60 Rosner's Domain Why many Jewish men go beardless (WTR) New poll: Is it legitimate for Israel to cut electricity to Gaza? The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Clinton or McCain? That's a tough one More Headlines 19:03 Hamas: Gaza power cuts won't deter Qassam rocket fire 18:59 Sources: Blair 'shocked' by Dichter fears of arrest in U.K. 18:40 France's Le Pen gets suspended jail term for comments on Nazi occupation 17:55 Egypt boosts troop security on Gaza border amid Hamas abduction threat 13:18 Iran helps Syria develop missile that can target Israel better 06:48 Grave near Kiev is reminder of 20th century's only blood libel 15:10 Report: Tehran says it is building a second atomic power plant 15:59 Davis Cup: Israel leads Sweden, 1-0, after Sela beats Bjorkman 14:48 Dollar falls as Fischer says won't intervene in currency market 13:11 Palestinian PM says he sees no peace accord with Israel in 2008 Previous Editions Select Day 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan

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