Perhaps during the last months, Shas was providing the true safety net for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s coalition, but today, the picture is a different one.

Shas leader Eli Yishai is indicating the party is about to leave the coalition since the prime minister and Finance Minister Roni Bar-On are unwilling to comply with Shas’ demands to increase the monthly child allowance payments.

As far as the other major coalition partner, the Labor Party, party leader Ehud Barak stated on Monday that preparations are underway for elections, sending another message to Olmert that following Barak’s ultimatum last week, Kadima is compelled to take action or Labor will, stating the party will not wait indefinitely for a date to be set for national elections.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)