Barak faces backlash over Sharon partnership

Israel's outgoing prime minister Mr Ehud Barak is facing a fierce backlash from Labour colleagues over plans to join forces with…

Israel's outgoing prime minister Mr Ehud Barak is facing a fierce backlash from Labour colleagues over plans to join forces with hardline premier-elect Mr Ariel Sharon.

He reacted strongly today, and said his party would not simply serve as foot-soldiers in a national unity government.

"I am speaking about a partnership in the conception and implementation of government policy in all fields," Mr Barak told a meeting of the Labour parliamentary party.

"We cannot simply be Sharon's soldiers and content ourselves with implementing the policies of the right wing," he added.

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Mr Barak agreed last Thursday with Mr Sharon to form a unity government following his crushing defeat at the hands of the Likud party leader in the February 6th election for prime minister.

But disgruntled Labour colleagues have spoken out against Mr Barak's decision and his acceptance of the role of defence minister, particularly as he announced after his election loss that he would be quitting both as party leader and as an MP.

The party's central committee was due to meet tomorrow to vote on its inclusion in a national unity government, but Mr Barak has put off the meeting until Sunday in a bid to seek more time to win over rebellious colleagues.

"At the moment, nothing has been agreed," a party spokesman said. "The committee needs something to vote on and we have nothing to vote on at the moment."

Mr Sharon, who soundly defeated Barak in the election two weeks ago, faces an March deadline to form a government.

AFP