Worldandnation: Sharon refuses to relent in dispute with parties

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continued to play hardball Tuesday with two ultra-Orthodox parties a day after he fired their Cabinet ministers for helping to defeat the government's economic austerity plan in Parliament.

While speculation mounted that the infighting might lead to the government's collapse and early elections, Sharon said he would not back down in his confrontation with Shas and United Torah Judaism. Both parties voted against the economic package, saying it would hurt the poor.

Sharon ordered his aides not to return telephone calls from leaders of either party. He vowed that negotiations with them will begin only after he puts his budget cuts before Parliament again today. No changes will be made in the proposal.

Sharon's decision followed a political setback last week in which his Likud Party's central committee adopted a resolution ruling out the establishment of a Palestinian state, in direct contradiction to Sharon's stated support for eventual Palestinian independence.

"For the second time in less than 10 days, Sharon made a dignified decision which does not necessarily dovetail with political considerations," wrote the daily newspaper Maariv in its lead editorial Tuesday. "He sent a clear message to his Shas partners, who dared to undermine the economic plan which is essential to saving the economy."

If the ultra-Orthodox ministers decide to abstain from the balloting on the economic plan rather than vote against it, Sharon is expected to rescind the dismissals and his coalition will remain intact, analysts said. But if they again vote no and quit the government, Sharon will be left with just 60 seats in the 120-seat Parliament.

Sharon's gamble is that Shas, the third-largest party in Parliament, will relent rather than face early elections.

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