The ultra-right Shas party in Israel has changed its position and announced its support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's economic program. This move is expected to pave the way for Shas's return to the ruling coalition. Last week, Mr. Sharon expelled four cabinet ministers from the Shas party and several deputy ministers from a smaller ultra-right party for their refusal to approve the government's austerity economic program. Mr. Sharon's program must be approved three times in parliament. The Prime Minister views Shas's change of position towards the government coalition as a sign of the party's support for his economic plan. Shas, which is the third-largest party in Israel with 17 representatives in the parliament, opposes budget cuts that will affect its constituencies and the allocation of millions of dollars for Israeli military operations against Palestinian militants. The return of Shas to the cabinet requires parliamentary approval. Analysts say that Mr. Sharon will likely call for a vote on the economic bill again before the representatives approve the return of Shas members to the cabinet to gauge the party's commitment to budget cuts. With the expulsion of members from two ultra-right parties from the cabinet, Mr. Sharon only controlled 60 out of 120 seats in parliament.
Parliamentary Changes in Israel - 2002-05-30
The Shas party in Israel has shifted its stance to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's austerity economic program, facilitating its potential return to the ruling coalition. This follows the expulsion of Shas ministers from the cabinet due to their previous opposition. The situation is critical as it influences parliamentary control and the approval of key economic policies.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Shas party has shifted its stance to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's austerity economic program, which could lead to its return to the ruling coalition after being expelled from the cabinet. This change follows tensions over budget cuts and military spending.
- Shas is the third-largest party in Israel with 17 representatives.
- Sharon's government now controls only 60 out of 120 parliamentary seats.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Israel's political landscape is often characterized by coalition governments, where smaller parties like Shas play a critical role in maintaining parliamentary majority.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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