Yishai: Shas will not vote for Lieberman's bill to change gov't

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai announced on Tuesday that his party would not support Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman's suggestion to instate presidential rule in Israel.

Lieberman has proposed to change the system of government in Israel from parliamentary rule to a system where the president has executive power.

"Lieberman's proposal is not serious," Yishai said. The Shas leader said he supports a change in the system of government, but only after a task force is created to explore the issue in depth, with the cooperation of academics and several factions.

It appears that Lieberman will not bring his proposal up for a preliminary reading in the Knesset on Wednesday, because he has yet to muster a majority of MKs to back the initiative. If the bill is rejected, Lieberman will not be able to bring it up to a vote again for six months.

A second proposal for a reform in the government has also been floated by members of Kadima, who wish to overhaul the parliamentary system. The Kadima MKs will not present their reform plan in the Knesset on Wednesday either, as Knesset regulations obligate the MKs to wait 45 days between announcing the proposed bill and formally bringing it up to a vote.

Lieberman sees the approval of his bill in the preliminary readings as an indication of whether he will succeed in his efforts to join the government. But despite the fact that the bill does not have a majority yet, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert seems optimistic that Lieberman will enter the government.

On Monday, Lieberman tried to deny the link between his bill and his chances of entering the government. "We are not discussing entering the government. Even if the bill is approved, that does not mean we will join," Lieberman said. "There are no talks regarding joining the coalition. In no uncertain terms, I am saying that no negotiations are being held."

However, Lieberman said "the gaps are closing" with regards to many policy issues he has demanded of the prime minister as conditions for joining the coalition.

Lieberman said Olmert has agreed to his demands to back down from his plan to evacuate settlements in the West Bank, support Lieberman's new presidential system of government, and to legislate civil marriage.