Opposition protests Clinton's intervention to save Barak

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.