Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TELAVIV6466
2004-12-21 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

SHARON AND PERES AIM FOR UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHIN

Tags:  PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006466 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2014
TAGS: PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: SHARON AND PERES AIM FOR UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHIN
THE WEEK DESPITE LEGAL HICCOUGH OVER PERES' ROLE


Classified By: Political Counselor Norman Olsen for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006466

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2014
TAGS: PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: SHARON AND PERES AIM FOR UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHIN
THE WEEK DESPITE LEGAL HICCOUGH OVER PERES' ROLE


Classified By: Political Counselor Norman Olsen for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon is well on his way to
gaining passage of an amendment to the country's Basic Laws
that will meet Labor's demands for senior government
positions and allow Sharon to form a new government by New
Year's. The amendment would allow for a second alternate
prime minister position -- to be held by Shimon Peres -- a
position demanded by Labor in lieu of receiving the Defense,
Foreign Affairs, or Finance portfolios. Sharon is exerting
strong pressure on his party to expedite Knesset approval of
the bill, and Labor Party leader Peres is pushing his own
party to approve the coalition agreement and elect its seven
ministerial candidates. The outcome of internal party
squabbles over process and expediency will determine whether
a unity government will be formed this week or next. End
Summary.

--------------
"Peres Bill" Key to Unity Government
--------------


2. (C) Labor and Likud are expected to ram through the
Knesset within days the necessary amendment to the Basic Laws
to create a second alternate prime minister position to be
held by Shimon Peres, as detailed in the proposed Likud-Labor
agreement. Likud MK Ehud Olmert already occupies the single
alternate PM slot allowed under Israel's Basic Laws, which
are similar in effect to a constitution.


3. (C) Likud Party officials have been greasing the
legislative process to allow for expedited passage of the
amendment -- now referred to as the "Peres Bill." Although
Knesset Constitution and Law Committee Chairman Michael
Eitan, whose committee must consider the amendment, is
opposed to rushing the action, the 21-member Knesset House
Committee approved abbreviated consideration December 20,
allowing the Knesset plenary to refer the bill to Eitan's
committee for consideration December 21. Ministry of Justice
Knesset Liaison Paz Barnett told poloff December 21 that
Eitan is under pressure to complete work on the bill in only
one or two sittings and refer the bill back to the Knesset
for votes as early as December 22. Eitan has indicated,
however, that his committee's deliberations could last
through the week. The bill requires three Knesset readings
and votes after it leaves the committee, but all three could
be completed back-to-back on the same or consecutive days.

--------------
Getting Labor's Ducks in Line
--------------


4. (C) Despite internal Labor squabbles over timing, Labor's
Central Committee is now scheduled to meet December 21 to
endorse the Likud-Labor agreement -- including a contingency
clause requiring passage of the Basic Laws amendment -- and
determine how and when it will select its ministerial and
deputy minister candidates. Party elections will likely take
place within a week.

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