RAMALLAH: Right-wing Likud leader and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday signed a coalition agreement with Labor chairman Ehud Barak.
Later in the evening, Labour Party voted in favour of joining the coalition, Israeli television channels said. The two party leaders met in an attempt to bridge the differences and finalize the remaining issues in the coalition negotiations, mainly on the economic level.
Under the deal with Barak, the Likud administration would respect all of Israel’s international agreements, a formula that includes accords envisaging Palestinian statehood. Israel will work to have peace agreements with each of its neighbors, and will commit itself to all diplomatic and international agreements signed by the Israeli governments, including those made with the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu has shied away from declaring support for a two-state solution that is at the heart of US peace efforts. Indirect acceptance of that goal might keep him off a possible collision course with President Barack Obama.
The government will also work to enforce the law in terms of the illegal outposts as well as illegal Palestinian construction. Barak will be a full partner in the diplomatic process and will be a partner in any forum aimed at making decisions in the diplomatic, security and economic field. The deal is expected to give Labor five portfolios, two deputy ministers and a Knesset committee chairmanship.
In his agreement to “all diplomatic deals” Netanyahu is essentially ratifying his old commitment to former US President George W. Bush’s Road Map, which was adopted at the time by Ariel Sharon, alongside its reservations. Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon of Labor said: “This agreement talks about a significant diplomatic process, as well as maintaining the rule of law in Israel. This is a dramatic agreement. I have sat in three governments and have not seen such a great achievement. Anyone who views themselves as part of a social-democratic party will find it difficult to support it.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian militants fired a rocket into Israel from Gaza after several days of quiet, Israeli police said yesterday. Police sources said the rocket landed near the city of Ashkelon, causing no casualties. No Palestinian group took responsibility for the attack.
— With input from agencies
