Likud, Labor reach Israel coalition deal

JERUSALEM, March 24 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu and Labor Party leader Ehud Barak have agreed to join forces in a governing coalition, local media reported.

Agriculture Minister and Labor Party principal Shalom Simchon told Israeli Army Radio Tuesday that Netanyahu and Barak have forged a deal for Labor to join a right-wing coalition of the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu parties on condition the new government would work toward a peace agreement with the Palestinian people, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The proposed coalition will be submitted to Labor Party members convention Tuesday in Tel Aviv for a secret vote on whether to join the government or oppose it, a vote that could determine the fate of Labor, which has lost seats in the Knesset and is struggling to stay relevant, analysts said.

The Army Radio report indicated that under the coalition deal, Barak, who supports a separate state for the Palestinians, would remain Defense minister and be included in every forum where a diplomatic or security decision was being made.

The Post also quoted the report as saying Netanyahu has agreed to Barak's demand that illegal outposts and settlement construction in the West Bank be restricted or dismantled.