Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began coalition talks with the opposition Labor Party. In parallel to talks with Labor leader Shimon Peres on Sunday, Sharon invited the religious Shas party to consider joining the coalition. Labor voted Saturday to enter talks with Sharon’s Likud party, and can now expect up to 10 Cabinet seats if it joins the government. Shas is angling for three seats. Last Thursday, Sharon won a key Likud vote allowing the talks to go ahead, beating back party hardliners who fear bringing Labor into the coalition will allow Sharon to push through his Gaza withdrawal plan next year. Peres said a deal could be sealed within the week.
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