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Last update - 02:50 13/02/2008 Senior Shas officials: Rabbi Yosef not ready to quit coalition By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Rabbi Yosef, Israel  Senior Shas officials have criticized the escalation in recent days by party chairman and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai of his threats to quit the coalition. They say that the party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, does not want to leave the government at this stage. In addition, they say, the calls to leave contradict the position taken by the Council of Torah Sages three weeks ago, according to which Shas will leave the cabinet only if and when the issue of Jerusalem is discussed in negotiations with the Palestinians. The Shas sources say that because Yosef does not believe that the negotiations will lead to real results on their current trajectory, due to the weak position of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he sees no need for Shas to intensify its threats. The sources emphasized, however, that Yosef is aware of recent statements ascribed to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, to the effect that Jerusalem has already been put on the negotiating table, and that he asked Yishai to request clarifications from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after he returns from Germany. Since Yisrael Beiteinu left the government last month, over its objections to the "core issues" being addressed in the negotiations with the Palestinians, leaving Shas as the lone right-wing party in the coalition, Yishai has moved Shas's foreign policy positions farther to the right and stepped up its threats to leave the coalition. Advertisement At first, Shas, with the approval of the Council of Torah Sages, made the discussion of Jerusalem its red-line issue. Later, Yishai implied that the raising of other core issues, such as the Palestinian refugees and the permanent borders of the state, were also problematic for Shas. On Monday he announced at a meeting of the Shas MKs that if progress was made in the negotiations while Qassam fire continued at its current rate, Shas would leave the coalition immediately. The Shas officials said that Yishai's latest threats point to his preparing the ground for pulling the party out of the government, despite Yosef's objections. Last week Yishai said at a conference of party activists that new Knesset elections could take place before the mayoral elections, currently scheduled nationwide for November. The decision to hold a joint Shas-National Union tour Thursday of the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Har Homa and Ir David also met with criticism from within Shas. The officials said it would be better to hold a separate tour for Shas, as originally planned. Related articles: All in favor / Shas chair: I'll fulfill Lieberman's doctrine Yisrael Beiteinu leaves gov't over peace talks Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gore wins TAU prize Al Gore and Amos OZ are among the recipients of the 2008 Dan David Prize. Spring roll strike Asian eateries across Israel cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs.   1.   Quit now, show the world exactly who is the roadblock to peace 03:49  |  Pablo B 13/02/08   2.   Rav Ovadya 04:12  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 13/02/08   3.   traitor olmert will dangle some shekalim,in front of shas 05:35  |  chaim 13/02/08   4.   #2 Money for their schools is more important than anything else! 05:39  |  Safta M 13/02/08   5.   jerusalem 06:30  |  colin 13/02/08   6.   Voices from above telling---- 07:14  |  koli shema 13/02/08   7.   No Votes For SHAS Again - Forbidden To Stand Idle When Jews are B 07:25  |  HTY 13/02/08   8.   Shas and Ethics 07:26  |  howiej 13/02/08   9.   The puppet master and the puppet 07:39  |  SJ 13/02/08   10.   Get Rid of Shas 08:00  |  Martin 13/02/08   11.   Shas are nothing but political prostitutes! 10:06  |  Saba Avraham 13/02/08   12.   NEVER VOTING FOR SHAS AGAIN 11:35  |  Shlomi 13/02/08   13.   Yishai and Shas. 12:14  |  sandra chitayat 13/02/08   14.   Shas` "Council of Torah Sages" 13:32  |  Andras Bereny 13/02/08   15.   Holy means full of holes in English The word for hole in Hebrew i 14:07  |  A.Nimal 13/02/08   16.   Shas`s Rebbe is for sale.Baba Sali is rolling over in his grave. 14:12  |  Nishama Dough 13/02/08   17.   What`s the difference between Al Qaida and Shas? 14:14  |  The Don 13/02/08   18.   We left Egypt. We saw miracles.There have always been eruv 14:20  |  Hu Gadol 13/02/08   19.   Heidi Fleiss or Shas? You have to feed the 14:44  |  Drew A Blank 13/02/08   20.   Tricks of policy makers. Is $ha$ stupid or greedy? 14:48  |  Talor Made 13/02/08   21.   prostitution the oldest profesion & shas represnt that not judais 16:36  |  zionist forever 13/02/08

Today Online Hezbollah terror chief killed in Damascus blast; Israel blamed Responses: 237 PM: Major progress possible on borders of Palestinian state Responses: 84 Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' Responses: 63 Amira Hass: Gazans wonder what's new about Israel wiping out neighborhoods Responses: 32 Haaretz.com TV: Teen recalls Qassam attack in which his brother lost a leg Responses: 5 Rosner's Domain Guest: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Obama is gaining momentum - also among Jews Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 16:46 Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah killed in Damascus blast 15:00 PMO denies Israeli role in Imad Mughniyah's death 13:16 ANALYSIS: Hezbollah terror chief was more wanted than Nasrallah 14:28 Hezbollah deputy leader was behind string of terror attacks 16:36 Report: New Hamas TV show features 'Jew-eating' Bugs Bunny lookalike 16:45 Qassam strikes a Sderot house causing damage but no injuries 13:06 ANALYSIS: Imad Mughniyah - The epitome of the 'Axis of Evil' 14:54 Jewish Agency envoy arrested over fraudulent conversions 15:45 Court okays soldier's 15-month jail term for Hebron rampage 07:47 Dov Alfon named as new Haaretz editor-in-chief 10:38 Olmert: Significant progress possible on borders of Palestinian state 05:16 Fatah undergoing major democratic reform to compete with Hamas, Fayyad Previous Editions Select Day 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan

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