Posted on 02/10/2003 6:34:51 AM PST by Israel Insider
President Moshe Katsav officially invited Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Israel's next government at a short ceremony in Jerusalem Sunday afternoon. Both Katsav and Sharon called for a national unity government. Sharon declared, "Whoever says no to unity - rejects the will of the Israeli public." But Labor Party officials said they would not even show up for coalition talks with Likud.
Katsav extended the official invitation to Sharon after factions comprising 87 Knesset members expressed their support for the prime minister. Katsav said Sharon's public status, his vast experience, and the broad endorsement he received from the electorate guarantee his ability to form a government. By law, Sharon has 28 days (starting yesterday) to form a government, but he is allowed to request a 14-day extension.
"Out of a sense of deep responsibility, I accept the task of setting up a new government in Israel," Sharon said. "The new government will have to complete the campaign against terror, remove the terrorist leadership and create the conditions for the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership with which it will be possible to make real peace," he said.
In addition, Sharon vowed that the new government "will have to act immediately in order to get out of the economic crisis. There is no room for partial steps. We must maintain stability at all costs. We must enact sharp budget cuts. We must change the national list of priorities, enact reforms in the labor and capital markets, and privatize government companies," he said.
"Victory over terror, making peace and lifting the Israeli economy out of recession - these are the tasks of the new government." Sharon stressed that to accomplish these tasks, he required a government of "broad national agreement and concessions." Sharon said he would invite all Zionist parties to join his government.
"Whoever wants to move the Israeli economy forward - must be a partner. Whoever wants to be part of the blueprint of Israel's diplomatic path and face the pressures that may come - must join. Whoever desires peace - must enter the government or bear the responsibility for refusing to do so. Whoever says no to unity - rejects the will of the Israeli public," Sharon said.
Labor officials won't show up for coalition talks The Likud's coalition negotiations team has scheduled two days of talks with potential political partners. The first invitation was given to the Labor Party, but officials announced yesterday they would not show up for the talks.
"Unfortunately, I don't think a basis has been found to permit, let alone justify, our joining the government," Labor chairman Amram Mitzna wrote Sharon. "Governments are intended to be operational, so they cannot be based on a fleeting bond between two forces that disagree on the essential issues. This would not be a recipe for national unity, but for national paralysis."
Based on private talks with his close aides, Sharon does not believe Labor will join the coalition in the near future, Haaretz reported.
For a list of the Likud's potential coalition partners click here
Perhaps the Labor has been hanging around with the Palestinians so long that they have adsorbed the tendency to shoot them selves in the foot. This reminds me of spoiled kids taking their ball and going home when the rest of the team does not like their custom rules to the game.
Socialists are good at giving others a "choice." One choice. Theirs!
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