Israeli Labor Party Not to Join Government under Sharon: Mitzna

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 19, 2002

Israeli Labor Party Not to Join Government under Sharon: Mitzna

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Israel's Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna on Wednesday said if loses the Jan. 28 general elections, his party would not join a government under the leadership of Ariel Sharon, current and possibly also the next prime minister.

Israel Army Radio quoted Mitzna as saying Sharon's current demands are unacceptable, without elaboration.

He, however, laid down some of his own conditions for a unity government, including an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and the transfer of funds from the settlements to needy towns.

During an TV interview on Tuesday, Sharon said he does not believe that at such a difficult time there is a Labor Party leaderwho would refuse to sit in a unity government formed by him if his Likud party wins the Jan. 28 general elections.

Sharon has expressed on numerous occasions that he wants to forma new unity government after the elections.

"I don't know from where he (Sharon) gets this. This is part of the Likud's deception," Mitzna said, in a speech to students at TelAviv's Alliance High School.

It was the first time that Mitzna has stated publicly that he will not join a unity government under Sharon's leadership.

The Labor chief added that if he is elected prime minister, he will invite the Likud to join the government only if the party supports his intention to separate from the Palestinians.

Mitzna advocates a negotiated separation from the Palestinians, or a unilateral separation if the talks do not succeed within one year. He also advocates evacuation of the Gaza Strip settlements within one year, and the transfer of billions of shekels currently going to the settlements to finance social goals.

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