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Israel's coalition talks hit obstacle

JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The planned coalition between Israel's two main political parties has been delayed by a disagreement in talks, the BBC reported.

The talks were halted by plans to appoint Labor leader Shimon Peres as second deputy prime minister. However, Israel's constitution provides for only one deputy and the current holder, Ehud Olmert, refuses to surrender the post.

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Officials had hoped to finalize an agreement Sunday between the ruling Likud party and Labor, in preparation for PM Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza, but the Labor Party has threatened to withdraw from coalition talks unless Peres is appointed deputy prime minister when the party's eight new ministers are sworn in.

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