Coalition govt needs ultra-Orthodox party: Sharon aide

As negotiations with the Labor Party and the United Torah Judaism expected to open on Sunday, Sharon also intends to begin talks with another ultra-Orthodox Shas party.

The Shas party, together with the small but influential ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism and the center-left opposition Labour party would help gain Sharon more support in the parliament.

Sharon is expected to announce the creation of a team to handle coalition negotiations.

Sharon' move to form a coalition government came after his right-wing Likud-led government lost several far-right allies over the Gaza pullout plan, which makes he controls just 59 among the 120 seats in parliament, making it vulnerable to collapse.

Peres and his Labor Party would bring 19 seats to the coalition, giving Sharon a comfortable majority in parliament to help push through his pullout plan.

Labor party on Tuesday approved the start of talks with the ruling Likud on forming a coalition government to push through the Gaza pullout plan.

Source: Xinhua