Monday, December 21, 2009

Ahead of decision on Shalit deal: Opposition pulls non-confidence motions

(Ynet).The Opposition has decided to pull its pending non-confidence bid scheduled to be put to vote Monday, thus clearing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's schedule to deal only with the pending Shalit deal.

The special seven-minister cabinet, which includes, other than Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon, Minister of Intelligence Services Dan Meridor, Minister Benny Begin (Likud) and Shas Chairman Eli Yishai is set to meet once again at 8 pm.

"Regardless of anyone's personal opinions about this deal, this is a very complex dilemma. At a time like this, with consecutive cabinet meetings, the prime minister should be allowed to focus solely on the matter at hand," Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni (Kadima) explained.

"The stately conduct required of us now is to refrain from submitting non-confidence motions today," she added.

Nevertheless, Kadima sources criticized the fact that the decision to pull the motions was "made at the last minute. They should have been pulled earlier in the morning."

The United Arab List-Ta'al also decided to pull its non-confidence motion. "The cabinet in convening on a crucial matter which transcends (party) differences," Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi said.