(Haaretz).Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold consultations with Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu before any final decision is made on a prisoner swap for captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Haaretz has learned.
A source in the Prime Minister's bureau said on Saturday that Olmert will ask for Netanyahu's opinion in light of last Tuesday's election results. Despite garnering less votes than the ruling Kadima Party, the right-wing camp's majority in the upcoming Knesset gives the Likud leader the best chance to form the next governing coalition.
Olmert will also huddle with Netanyahu before signing off on a renewed cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"Netanyahu is updated every so often on developments and we will want to consult with him before making a decision on a matter that will be critical for the next government," the source said.
