Israel’s opposition parties have decided against holding a first reading on a bill to dissolve the Knesset at the start of November, saying it would be improper, given the current security situation, reported Haaretz newspaper.
The parties are also considering freezing the bill, even if the situation in Palestinian territories were to calm down, as long as Prime Minister Ehud Barak takes no steps toward resuming negotiations with the Palestinians on the basis of the Camp David understandings, said the paper.
The chairman of the Likud faction, Reuven Rivlin, explained that public sentiment is against trying to topple the government at such a tense time, and his party “does not want to arouse the public's ire.”
Other faction members made similar statements, said the paper.
The opposition parties held a meeting Thursday, and agreed that a unity government is currently the wrong move, but that for reasons of public relations, the idea should not be ruled out for the future, according to the paper.
Likud leader, Ariel Sharon, said Friday that he would meet Barak to discuss joining a national unity government, reported AFP.
"We're seeing that unity is very important, when we see all those problems and dangers that Israel is facing at the present time," said Sharon, who edged past Barak for the first time in an opinion poll published the same day, according to the agency.
Sharon did not say when the meeting would take place, AFP said, but Haaretz reported that a meeting between the two is likely to take place on Saturday night.
Sharon hinted that he would seek a harder line if his Likud party was to join the government, AFP added.
"When you join the government, you have to join or stay for something or on something. You have to decide about the political platform, political plans, what is going to be the peace process," he told CNN – (Several Sources)
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