JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Tuesday rejected the secular Shinui Party's condition for co-opting the ultra-orthodox Torah Judaism party in the coalition.
Shinui demanded there be no ultra-orthodox minister in the cabinet and the ultra-orthodox should not take over the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee, a position they had used to funnel more money to their projects.
According to the Ha'aretz news service, Sharon told Torah Judaism Knesset Member Avraham Ravitz that Shinui's leader, Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, "Does not determine the government makeup or the makeup of the Finance Committee... I would be glad if you decide to join the cabinet, and not only the coalition."
Torah Judaism legislators now say they do not want to serve in a government with Shinui.
Sharon approached Torah Judaism because of internal pressure within his Likud to co-opt a religious party. Independent analysts said if Torah Judaism persists in its refusal to sit with Shinui, Sharon might have a case for convincing enough Likud members to support a Likud-Shinui-Labor coalition, omitting the ultra-orthodox.
