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Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. (AP) Mofaz parlays with Shas to avoid early elections By Mazal Mualem Tags: Shas, Yishai, Kadima, Mofaz Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz has been forging closer links with Shas to head off early elections and lay the groundwork for an alternative government headed by him in the current Knesset. Mofaz has held several discussions with the Shas chairman - Industry Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai - and Communications Minister Ariel Atias. The two reportedly told him that they would support him if he promised to increase child allowances. Shas sources said party leaders have already reached agreements with Mofaz on this issue. Mofaz believes he can prevent early elections and is acting to secure Shas' support before the Kadima leadership primary. This would give him a huge advantage over his main rival, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is leading in the public opinion polls. Advertisement Mofaz believes that Kadima's Knesset faction and the party's central activists and mayors, who fear falling from power if new elections are held, would support him. Mofaz sees himself as "naturally connected" to Shas due to his religious and right-wing background. In private conversations he has said he can also bring Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu back into the coalition. He has said the last thing Labor chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak wants is early elections. Mofaz will launch a campaign against a pullout from the Golan Heights today, to strengthen his support among right-wing voters in general. He intends to tour the Golan and meet residents there. Livni is also planning grassroots tours to meet local activists next week; she has scheduled political gatherings in meeting halls and people's homes. She is also meeting with Kadima ministers and MKs. Both Mofaz and Livni are building up a group of supporters in Kadima's Knesset faction. Meanwhile, Labor and Shas have stepped up their threats to hold early elections and to support bills to dissolve the Knesset. Barak told Labor MKs yesterday that it was "entirely possible" that elections for a new Knesset would be held by the end of this year. "The die has been cast and the political situation cannot last," Barak said at a Labor faction meeting. "It's entirely possible that there will be elections this year. We support governmental stability, but we are ready for elections." In an apparent appeal to members of Olmert's Kadima party, Barak added that "it's not the time to drag one's feet, but rather for purposeful and proper action." Last week, Barak said that if Prime Minister Olmert did not leave his post in the wake of the investigation against him, the Labor Party would act to set a date for early elections. Olmert is being investigated in the "affair of the envelopes" centering on allegations that Olmert took cash bribes from U.S. businessman and donor Morris Talansky. Labor faction chairman Eitan Cabel said that if Kadima did not move toward appointing Olmert's successor, "we may propose a bill to dissolve the Knesset in two or three weeks. We are seriously considering doing so. If Kadima wants stability it cannot hold its primaries in September." Also yesterday, Shas announced that after consulting its Torah Sages about quitting the coalition, they decided that unless a way to increase child allowances is found, Shas will support dissolving the Knesset. Likud MK Silvan Shalom said that he will present a bill to dissolve the Knesset on June 18 and that he believes a majority of MKs will support it. Related articles: Kadima chiefs drum up support, as primary approaches In the battle for Kadima, Mofaz to target Livni Shas: We'll bolt Olmert coalition if draft deal reached with PA Bookmark to del.icio.us   Word wars Hamas reverses effort to improve portrayal of Jews in Palestinian text books. Cyber-pimps beware MK Gal-On's proposed bill would jail 'online brothel managers' for 5 years.   1.   shas 03:13  |  charles kaplan 03/06/08   2.   $ha$ being $ha$ 03:31  |  Arie 03/06/08   3.   Mofaz belongs in LIKUD NOT KADIMA 03:57  |  MOE 03/06/08   4.   Olmert & Livni must go. They are both defeatists. 05:37  |  HENRY MANN 03/06/08   5.   Depressing... 07:30  |  Esther 03/06/08   6.   The Government is Now Systemically Against the People 07:46  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 03/06/08   7.   Mofaz doesn`t have a chance.Shas fools.BRING DOWN THIS GOVERNMENT 07:50  |  SARA 03/06/08   8.   DON`T GIVE N TO THE BLACKMAILERS!!!! 07:52  |  b`Galil 03/06/08   9.   I Thought Shas Was "Unafraid" of Early Elections 08:04  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 03/06/08

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