Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Kadima, Yisrael Beiteinu sign coalition deal

From Haaretz, 21:11 23/10/2006, by Gideon Alon and Mazal Mualem ...

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Leiberman signed a coalition agreemment Monday evening....

According to the agreement, which must still be approved by the Knesset, Lieberman will serve as vice premier, and he also will be a Minister of Strategic Threats in the Prime Minister's Office. Lieberman will be a cabinet member and an integral part of all discussions regarding strategic decisions for Israel.

The accord also stipulates that the system of government is to be changed, and hearings will be held in order to formulate an alternative system. Further, the accord includes a commitment to resolving the issue of couples who desire a civil marriage.The Labor Party Central Committee will meet in the coming days in order to decide how to respond to the addition of Yisrael Beiteinu, but is expected to decide to remain in the government.....

....Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman .... echoed Olmert's words when he said that in his view, Israel's most pressing issue was dealing with Iran.

Following a meeting of his Knesset faction Monday, Lieberman criticized the Israeli right wing. "For thirty years the right wing has been in power, and despite this we were unable to prevent the [territorial] withdrawals," said Lieberman. "Maybe we should change the strategy because it is wrong," said Lieberman. "I hope that also members of the right-wing factions will change direction."...

...PM: No escape from changing system of government
Olmert said Monday morning that there was no escape from changing the Israeli system of government, to include elements that would strengthen and ensure the stability of the coalition for a long time. Yisrael Beiteinu would bring 11 lawmakers into the coalition, giving Olmert control of 78 of 120 parliamentary seats.

.... The prime minister, however, emphasized that he does not support the proposed presidential system of government, and that he will not succumb to a demand by any of the coalition members to change the parliamentarian government system.... Olmert said "The government cannot function when it is required to negotiate with different members of its coalition before any major vote - that could determine the government's future." "This must be clear: A government must have a stable majority. And we must set the rules for securing this [concept], and a wide political base that would shield it."...

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