Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will begin on Monday a series of contacts with a number of Knesset members to form a new cabinet, reported Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), quoting Radio Israel.
Radio Israel quoted sources from Israeli parties as saying that the new cabinet is to include parties who are not religious and that it will be formed before the winter session of the Knesset due to take place next month, said KUNA.
It added that the minister of communications Benyamin Ben Elizer met Sunday with the leader of the opposition Likud party, Ariel Sharon, to discuss a number of issues, including Likud's readiness to join the coalition.
According to KUNA, Sharon had reiterated a number of times his unwillingness to be a part of a national unity government and that he preferred holding early elections, which he hopes will carry him to power - Albawaba.com
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