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Last update - 04:39 27/05/2008 Shas threatens to bolt gov't over child welfare payments By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: child allowances, Shas  Shas is threatening to quit the government if child welfare payments are not increased. When party chairman Eli Yishai and minister Ariel Atias met Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Roni Bar-On on Monday to discuss child welfare allocations, Yishai told them that this time Shas means business. "We won't let them give us the runaround. We want a yes or no answer," a Shas source said Monday. Political insiders say Shas is getting ready to jump ship on the assumption that the government's days are numbered, and it is using the social agenda as its excuse. Advertisement "If our demand to increase the budget for child payments is rejected, I will recommend to our Council of Sages to quit the government immediately," Yishai told Shas' faction Monday. He predicted that the Knesset elections would be held ahead of time, at around November this year, and said he was considering calling for a gathering of the Council of Torah Sages to decide on how to act if the party's demand for increased child payments is rejected. Bar-On visited Shas' spiritual mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef last night in an attempt to persuade him that Olmert's government is committed to dealing with poverty and is investing billions in solving the problem. Shas' demand is holding up Olmert's round of appointments, as the party is conditioning its support for MK Avishay Braverman's (Labor) appointment as Finance Committee chair on increasing the children's allocations. Shas has rejected Olmert's offer to appoint a Shas man as deputy housing minister in exchange for support on the appointments. Shas ministers told Olmert they would not be appeased with appointments and would reject the offers even if offered another ministerial post. Shas sources said they were Olmert's most loyal partners and did not complain even when Olmert gave labor the deputy defense minister's post and appointed Majali Wahabi of Kadima as deputy foreign minister to solve internal coalition problems, despite prior agreements with Shas. "It's not that we're taking advantage of Olmert's weakness because of the investigations. It's a mater of principle," a Shas source said. Shas intends to emphasize social causes in the next election campaign and needs to distinguish itself from Labor on these issues, a Shas source said. Shas will say in its campaign that Labor prefers to "feed opportunist politicians rather than hungry children," the source said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Scuba SMS Ultrasonic sound wave technology revolutionizes underwater communication. 'Hip-hop violinist' Israeli violinist participates in New York event, celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary.   1.   Principles 05:02  |  Shas Ain`t Got None 27/05/08   2.   SHAS: FOLLOW THE MONEY!!! 07:30  |  Ben Uziel 27/05/08   3.   Shas will leave only b/c of money...but not 4 Jerusalem!!! 07:33  |  Jon 27/05/08   4.   Oh it must be Tuesday 08:04  |  SJ 27/05/08   5.   money 08:17  |  colin 27/05/08   6.   Likud Should Start a Quite Program to Recruit Shas Voters 14:41  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 27/05/08   7.   Shas is a party run by Men not hot headed children 17:33  |  Simeon ben Jacob 27/05/08   8.   #7 Simeon. On what do you base your claim Shas "stands for it`s 03:10  |  Chaim 28/05/08   9.   #6 Ovadia. We should make a very serious effort to punish Shas in 03:15  |  Chaim 28/05/08

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