Sharon to meet Peres for talks on Israeli unity government
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ariel Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister, took the first step towards recasting his government last night when he announced he would meet Shimon Peres, the Labour leader, for preliminary talks this weekend on forming a new coalition.
Mr Sharon wants to form a new unity government of the Israeli political centre to guarantee support for his plan to withdraw the 7,500 Jewish settlers from Gaza by the end of next year - a plan bitterly contested by his far-right coalition partners and many in his own Likud party.
Although Mr Sharon's intentions were well known, the timing of the announcement at an economic conference in Caesarea came as an unwelcome surprise to right-wing critics.
Meanwhile Gaza saw the worst violence since the Israeli army moved into the northern neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun last week, when soldiers killed at least seven Palestinians, including several militants. Two of the most senior army officers serving in the strip were wounded when their jeep was attacked by missiles and a roadside bomb.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack on the jeep, which wounded five soldiers including Colonel Pinky Zuaretz, a brigade commander, and Colonel Yossi Turjeman, a co-ordinator of the disengagement plan in Gaza.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments