Yishai's Stand

Shas leader Eli Yishai has stated bluntly that his party will quit the government if Olmert agrees to give up any part of Jerusalem's Old City or withdraw from almost all the West Bank. If Olmert loses both Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, he only has 55 seats, even if he keeps all of Kadima and Gil. In other words, getting a majority of the Knesset behind a real peace deal will require Meretz plus at least one Arab party.