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Labor Party Votes to Join Sharon Coalition
Israel's dovish Labor Party voted Saturday to join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's ruling coalition, a move that makes it easier for the Israeli leader to implement his Gaza withdrawal plan next year. Yoram Dori, an adviser to Labor leader Shimon Peres, said coalition talks would begin later Saturday. Sharon needs to forge an alliance with Labor to push through his plan to pullout of the Gaza Strip next year and to prevent an early election. Sharon's hard-line Likud Party voted Thursday to open coalition talks with Labor. He invited Labor into the government early Friday. "The Labor Central Committee authorized Shimon Peres to hold talks for a broad coalition. Negotiations with Likud will begin tonight," Dori told The Associated Press. Sharon's plan to pullout of all Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements next year cost him his parliamentary majority.
Posted by: Fred 2004-12-11 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=51016 |