Israel's key Shas party will not join coalition

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli ultra-orthodox Shas party decided on Friday not to join a coalition led by Israeli premier-designate Tzipi Livni, a party spokesman said, making early elections almost inevitable.

On Thursday, Livni set a Sunday deadline to either say she can form a new Israeli coalition government or announce failure, thereby starting the constitutional process that leads to an early general election.

Shas spokesman Roy Lachmanovich said in a statement that the party was unable to reach agreement with Livni's Kadima party over two main issues -- the status of Jerusalem and social welfare benefits for the poor.

"Shas has asked only for two things ... real financial help for the (financially) weak in Israeli society and protection for Jerusalem ... which is not merchandise for sale."

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49N2JB20081024

[LeftishBrit]

1. If they can form a coalition without Shas, this would be the best (and better than what's been

happening)-

If it leads to Netanyahu getting in, then that is not good!

Incidentally, for someone in a system like that of the UK or US, where religious/social conservativism, hawkishness, and economic conservativism generally go together, it is a bit hard to get one's head round the concept of a hawkish and socially conservative party being the one that wants welfare spending increases! I suppose there's no intrinsic reason why not; it just goes against the system that I'm used to.

[oberliner]

2. Great point

That concept of right vs. left is not always instructive, especially when thinking about Israeli politics.

The lens of US (or, I would imagine UK) ideas of this terminology can lead to greater confusion rather than deeper understanding of the political landscape in Israel.

It seems doubtful that a coalition can be formed without Shas, however. At least not as the Knesset stands currently.