Sharon seen forming a coalition of anti-peace extremists

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, February 26 (IslamOline.net & News Agencies) – Following pains-taking efforts exerted by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over the past few days to form a coalition government, Israel’s extreme parties Shinui, National Religious Party (NRP) and the National Union Party (NUP) are expected to sign their coalition agreement with Sharon’s Likud Party Wednesday, February 26.

Likud, which holds 40 seats in the newly sworn-in 120-seat Knesset, signed up the extreme-right NUP to the new coalition late Tuesday, February 25, after  clinching an agreement with the secular centre-right Shinui party (15 seats), and the NRP (six seats), Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

By so doing, hawkish Sharon bolstered his parliamentary majority with a sharp swing to the right that was likely to cripple any possibility to meet international peace demands.

Analysts say that the new Israeli line-up represents a setback for U.S.-led efforts to restart the Middle East peace process.

According to the Israeli media, Likud and the NUP managed to sidestep a deadlock over Palestinian statehood by agreeing the issue would only be brought before the cabinet "if and when it becomes relevant."

The NRP staunchly advocates the expansion of Jewish settlements and is opposed to the peace process.

Sharon had worked hard to bring the Labour Party into government as well, but the two sides disagreed sharply over the inclusion of the NRP.

Sharon's putative coalition grew from the 61 Knesset seats of Likud, Shinui and the NRP to 68 after the NUP’s seven MPs had joined the coalition.

With 68 MPs in the government alliance, Sharon's cabinet will be difficult to topple.

A recent law stipulates that an absolute majority is needed to carry a motion of no confidence.

Likud is expected to have 12 or 13 ministers in the government, in addition to the prime minister and two deputy ministers.

For the first time, Likud will also have the chair of the Knesset Finance Committee, the Israeli daily Haaretz said, Wednesday.

In addition, it will have the chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, and the Constitution, Justice and Law Committee, added the paper.

Responsibility for the Israel Broadcasting Authority will also remain in Likud hands, most likely one of the ministers without portfolio.

This is the first time that ultra-Orthodox parties - the traditional kingmakers of Israeli politics - have not been part of a Likud government, BBC News Online remarked.

The coalition is due to be presented to parliament on Thursday, February 27.

For their part, Palestinian officials lambasted the new Israeli line-up as a government that would expand settlements and do away with any chance of renewing peace talks.

Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi cautioned the new coalition was "very dangerous".

"It is a very dangerous government, made up only of a group of racist extremists that have never stopped calling for the expulsion of the Palestinians," Ashrawi told AFP.

Such a government "will not help at all to open the way for the peace process, and the policies of these parties will further complicate the situation given that they do not recognize Palestinian rights," Ashrawi said.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said "this government will push for the development of settlements and the escalation of the aggression against the Palestinian people, while its programme will completely ignore any peace initiatives."