Opposition protests Clinton's intervention to save Barak
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
JERUSALEM -- The United States has intervened to save the coalition
of Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
The efforts were launched as Barak faced three motions of no-confidence
in his government on Monday.
Israeli officials said U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright moved
in to deal with the latest threat to Barak's government, Middle East Newsline reported. This was the threat
by Foreign Minister David Levy to resign. Levy said he would resign unless
Barak makes a serious effort to forge a national unity government by
Wednesday.
Opposition leaders have protested over what they termed as the
unprecedented degree of U.S. intervention in Israeli domestic affairs. They
said that in the past questions of Israeli politics would be explored by the
U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv.
Likud chairman Ariel Sharon said Barak and U.S. President Bill Clinton
decided to end the Camp David talks to bolster the political position of
both the American and Israeli leaders. "There was no crisis," Sharon said.
"There was a planned crisis that was done in agreement between Barak and the
United States so that there could be an agreement in October and help
[Clinton's] political situation."
Ms. Albright telephoned Levy and discussed the resignation threat,
officials said. They said the U.S. secretary wanted to know how Levy would
vote in the no-confidence motions on Monday and on legislation on Wednesday
to hold early elections.
Levy explained to the U.S. secretary his call for a government that
would include the opposition Likud party. He told Ms. Albright that such a
government would help bolster the Israeli-Palestinian peace process directed
by the United States.
"'My position has been reinforced that what is needed at this time is
the establishment of a national unity government," Levy said in a statement.
But Levy told Ms.Albright that he would abstain in Monday's
no-confidence motion and thus help Barak deny the 61 votes needed by the
opposition to overthrow the government.
Opposition sources and Israeli analysts said Clinton wants an agreement
with the Palestinians completed before November elections in the United
States. Clinton's wife, Hillary, is engaged in a tight U.S. Senate race in
New York.
On Wednesday, the Knesset is also scheduled to vote on a bill to
dissolve parliament and hold early elections. The bill, which does not
require 61 in a preliminary vote, is expected to pass a first reading.
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
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