Middle East

Barak and Netanyahu sign coalition deal in Israel

Article published on the 2009-03-24 Latest update 2009-03-24 09:08 TU

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, at a cabinet meeting, 22 March 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Premier-designate Benjamin Netanyahu signed a deal on Tuesday to form a broad-based coalition to run the country. But Barak still has to convince his Labour Party to endorse a deal.

After weeks of negotiations, Barak and the leader of the mainstream right-wing Likud Party signed an agreement that would give four ministries to the once-powerful Labour Party, according to Israeli radio.

Labour achieved its worst-ever results in last month’s election.

According to the agreement, Netanyahu will commit to continuing peace negotiations with the Palestinians and to respect past deals, the radio said.

The future government will also commit to work against illegal wildcat settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The deal, if approved, will allow Netanyahu to avoid forming a narrowly-based right-wing governing coalition which might not last long in the tumultuous world of Israeli politics.

Netanyahu, who has until 3 April to form a government, has already signed deals with the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party and the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.

Yisrael Beitenu and 11 from Shas. If Labour votes to join, he would have a four-member coalition of 66 deputies in the 120-member Knesset.

Meanwhile, in Umm el-Fahm, an Israeli Arab dominated town, violence broke out during a demonstration of far-right Jewish extremists.

After locals began throwing rocks at the demonstraters, police responded with tear gas. There were no immediate reports of injuries.