Peres gives Netanyahu 14-day extension to form government

President Shimon Peres on Friday accorded Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu a 14-day extension to form a government.

Netanyahu met Peres at the President's residence in Jerusalem and said that more time is required in light of the headway his Likud party made in talks with Labor Chairman Ehud Barak. Netanyahu has said that he intends to meet with Barak next week and further the negotiations, despite his original intention to form a right-wing cabinet by Monday.

Army radio reported Friday that Netanyahu claimed that his desire to form a national unity government has intensified over recent days as a direct result of intelligence he has received from the defense establishment as well as information supplied by financial experts.

Netanyahu said that, based on the information presented to him, he had reached the conclusion that the time was ripe for a national unity government.

On Thursday, Netanyahu met with Labor faction whip Eitan Cabel and MK Avishai Braverman for private talks, in a bid to help Barak convince his faction members to join the coalition. However, he could not persuade them.

Seven of Labor's 13 MKs - Shelly Yachimovich, Ophir Pines-Paz, Amir Peretz, Daniel Ben Simon, Yuli Tamir, Cabel and Braverman - object to Barak's proposal to join Netanyahu's government. At least five say they intend to vote against the unity government in the Knesset, even if the Labor party convention approves it.

The rebels gathered at party headquarters in Tel Aviv's Hatikva Quarter Thursday to coordinate plans to thwart Barak. They decided not to attack Barak personally and not to call for ousting him from the party leadership.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu met Benjamin Ben Eliezer, who on Thursday decided to support Labor's joining the government.

Netanyahu is getting involved in Labor affairs because he fears Barak will fail to pass his proposal to join the government at his party convention on Tuesday, Likud sources said.

Barak has met with the reticent MKs, as well as with central activists and MKs who support the move.

Histadrut secretary-general Ofer Eini has been telling people, "It would be suicide not to enter the government. We're in an economic crisis, and in a few months there will be hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers."

Yachimovich said Barak was killing their party's chances of being a true alternative for Israel's electorate by considering Likud's coalition offer.

Barak responded to his critics Thursday, saying, "What is wrong with talking to Netanyahu? I have spoken with senior PLO terrorists. Is Netanyahu the worst of our nation's enemies?"

Barak added that leaving the country's problems in the hands of a narrow right-wing government would be irresponsible. "The public's true dream government is a Likud-Kadima-Labor government. Both Tzipi Livni and Netanyahu said before the elections that they would work to forge a unity government."

	Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu meeting Labor leader for coalition talks last week.
	Photo by: Limor Edrey