Israel's once proud Labour Party sells out ...

[bin.dare]

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2004/1218/breaking6.htm

Israel's opposition Labour party is likely to join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's coalition next week, a move that could promote a Gaza pullout plan and also avoid early elections, his spokesman said last night.

The entry into the government of the left-wing Labour Party, led by Mr Shimon Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, could also help restart stalled talks with the Palestinians after they vote on January 9th for a successor to late President Yasser Arafat.

"They have reached an agreement. They will meet tomorrow (Saturday) to summarise it," said Mr Sharon's spokesman Mr Assaf Shariv, adding that the deal was likely to be signed tomorrow.

Mr Peres said last week that Labour should join the government "unconditionally" to speed up a plan to "disengage" from conflict with the Palestinians by evacuating all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank in 2005.

[bemildred]

1. Desperate times call for desperate measures. nt

[Prodemsouth]

2. I think it is a sign of what is happening not only there but here. Jewish

people are moving right despite all the defensive propaganda we see from Jewish Democratic or left leaning groups that try to point to surveys saying otherwise. I don't know why they feel the need to be defensive it is happening in most all communities not just the Jewish community.

[Tinoire]

5. I agree, they're becoming just as polarized as all of us

and like you, I resent the defensive propaganda.

[MAlibdem]

10. This claim has no bias

1. Coalition governments, as others have pointed out, are common in the Knesset.

2. Jews are not moving to the Right, rather the affiliation of those who agree with israel's right to exist and defend itself seems to be an issue pushed by the Right.

3. Movement to the Right only happens when we allow it to.

[w4rma]

3. This is good. They're overriding the half+ of the Likud Party that refuses

to pull settlements out of Gaza under any circumstances and also do not want peace short of killing/imprisoning all their Muslim neighbors.

[11cents]

4. Uh -- this "sellout" is a routine manuever in parliamentary systems

It's not the first time that Labor and Likud have been in the same government. Whether it's a good idea now or not is a matter that can be debated, but it has nothing to do with "moving right." Potentially, it could mean that the Israeli government as a whole will move left.

[ScotTissue]

6. Not only is it routine, it is hopeful

Now that Arafat gone, having a government of national unity with Labor and Likud means Israel is speaking with more of one voice than if it was just Sharon and the right. This is actually the sort of coalition you want at this juncture of history, if you want to have a crack at peace.

[David Zephyr]

7. Just as the British Labour Party and the U.S.Democratic Party "Sold Out"

or pimped themselves off would be more accurate, wouldn't it?

[bin.dare]

8. you are exactly right ...

Israel, England, US have seen the demolition of any semblance of left wing politics. what a pity.

[MAlibdem]

9. Coalition governments between Likud and Labor are common...

and healthy.

[Darranar]

11. Healthy? No, not really....

continuing the oppression of the Palestinians isn't healthy for anyone involved, and that's precisely what a Labor/Likud coalition would end up doing.

Not that a non-unity government would be much different.