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Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. (AP) Last update - 10:10 03/06/2008 With eye on PM job, Mofaz parlays with Shas to avoid early elections By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Shaul Mofaz, Kadima  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 on Tuesday, 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   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.   1.   To UNDERSTAND SHAS = follow the money!!! 08:29  |  Ben 03/06/08   2.   The Government is Now Systemically Opposed to the Israeli People 08:29  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 03/06/08   3.   I Thought that Shas is "Unafraid" of New Elections 08:31  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 03/06/08   4.   The disengagement general 10:25  |  Billy Bob 03/06/08   5.   The Labor Party is now the important thing - contd - 10:29  |  S 03/06/08   6.   Mofaz Parleying for the PM`s Chair..... 10:36  |  Dagma 03/06/08   7.   Mofaz dating Shas 10:49  |  SJ 03/06/08   8.   Mofaz already agreed to sell out the country to $ha$ 10:54  |  DkS 03/06/08   9.   If Olmert is so Innocent WHY should he need FIVE lawyers? 11:07  |  charlie 03/06/08   10.   Hacks 11:22  |  Ofer from Ofer 03/06/08   11.   Mofaz parlays with Shas to avoid .......... 11:31  |  Shmuel I.Popack 03/06/08   12.   Oye vey..... 12:17  |  Esther 03/06/08   13.   Olmert and His `Bribe Diet` 13:00  |  fred 03/06/08   14.   Livni and Mofaz lead in insanity over any other candidate 15:31  |  Sal 03/06/08   15.   Mofaz has a soft spot for Iran 10:29  |  jericho 08/06/08

Read & React Shmuel Rosner: Obama and Jerusalem - did you really believe him? Responses: 31 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA Responses: 16 Defense sources:Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature Responses: 14 Zvi Bar'el: Assad and Ahmadinejad - Kadima's winning candidates Send response Rosner's Domain Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? Guest: Marrying within the faith isn't racism - it's self preservation Should you mess with the Zohan? (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? What did Obama say to Joe Lieberman? (WTR) More Headlines 07:18 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA 08:03 Hamas militant killed, another wounded by IDF fire in Gaza 10:28 Defense sources: Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature 07:38 IAEA slams Mofaz remark that attack on Iran seems 'unavoidable' 08:39 Battered by rockets, Gaza-area kibbutz heads north for Shavuot 05:52 Remembering when our cause was just 08:32 ANALYSIS / Mofaz's Iran comments too high a price for party politics 07:58 Black Jewish filmmaker sets out to capture her identity 08:35 EU dignitaries hurt by IDF fire during West Bank protest 00:30 Clinton halts presidency bid, endorses Obama 08:34 Conditionally Jewish Previous Editions Select Day 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may

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