Israeli cabinet approved on Sunday the proposal by Israel
Beiteinu party chairman and Knesset (Parliament) member Avigdor
Lieberman, to reform the system of governance, as 12 ministers
voted in favor, 11 voted against it and one abstained.
The ministers of Shas and Labor Party are strongly opposed to
the change and voted against the proposal. According to it, the
prime minister would be elected directly and the president's office
would be abolished with his or her authority transferred to the
prime minister.
The bill will now undergo the legislative procedure in the
Knesset enjoying the government's support.
Labor Minister-without-Portfolio Eitan Cabel said earlier on
Sunday that if Lieberman's bill were passed, the Labor party would
have to consider whether to leave the coalition.
Israel Beiteinu has demanded coalition support for the
legislation as a condition for joining the government. Israel
Beiteinu moved closer to joining the coalition over the weekend,
with Lieberman announcing that his party would make a decision by
the end of this week.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he had a "great hope" that
Israel Beiteinu would join the coalition by the end of the
week.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz
said on Sunday that Israel Beiteinu should join the coalition to
ensure the government can serve a full term in office.
Olmert is keen on having the Lieberman proposal approved by the
cabinet so that it can be brought to the Knesset for a preliminary
reading, because Lieberman insisted that he is unlikely to join the
coalition unless his proposal is approved.
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2006)
