Ihud Leumi withdrawing from government

The joint Ihud Leumi-Israel Beitenu faction is withdrawing from the government coalition because it says the government is "negotiating under fire."

10 March 02 17:28, Globes' correspondent

At an emergency meeting, the joint Ihud Leumi-Israel Beitenu faction today decided to withdraw from the government coalition. The faction ordered the two parties' institutions to convene immediately in order to approve the decision. The final decision by each party will be made no later than tomorrow night. Minister of National Infrastructures Avigdor Lieberman and Minister of Tourism Benny Elon have not yet submitted their letters of resignation to the government; they will do so only if and when their parties decide to withdraw.

The faction said it was leaving the coalition because the prime minister had abandoned the principle of not negotiating under fire and had caved in on the demand for seven days of quiet as a prior condition for political negotiations, which the faction regards as an important principle.

Published by Israel's Business Arena on March 10, 2002