Netanyahu to Shas: Don't join Livni, she'll give up Jerusalem

Likud Chairman and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and asked him to instruct the Shas leaders not to join the coalition currently being constructed by prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, because she will "give up Jerusalem."

Livni was elected the leader of the ruling party Kadima last month, narrowly beating out rival Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, and was then tasked with assembling a government coalition within a 6-week timeframe, which will expire in approximately three weeks. If she succeeds in recruiting a majority of 61 MKs to her coalition, to which Shas is key, she will be named prime minister. If she fails, general elections will be called.

Netanyahu has recently stepped up efforts to dissuade Shas from entering into Livni's coalition. Netanyahu is seen as a likely winner should general elections be called, and is therefore interested in foiling Livni's efforts.

In an interview published over Yom Kippur in the Shas-linked weekly magazine "Miyom Leyom" (from day to day), Netanyahu promised that if he wins the next elections, Shas will be the first party he will invite into his coalition.

Livni, for her part, reiterated her call Sunday for Netanyahu and his Likud party to join her government. Likud representatives rejected her call, with Netanyahu's close associates saying it was a "shame that Livni is trying to circumvent the public demand for general elections."

"Stability will be achieved only after elections and the establishment of a wide coalition for the duration of the four-year term, not for the short term," one associate said.

Likud faction chairman Gideon Sa'ar said that "Livni and Kadima are taking advantage of the economic crisis to advance politically. Instead of speaking on behalf of the people, Livni must ask for the people's trust, and that is something that can only be achieved through elections. The attempt to hang on to a faltering government based on a narrow coalition and members that eye elections won't allow her to tackle the challenges that face our country today."

Meanwhile, a coalition agreement coalition agreement to bring the Labor Party into the coalition appeared to be nearing a conclusion after a negotiating session late night. A draft agreement was formulated Sunday following major progress in talks between Labor Party chairman Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Livni.