Religious party exits government

Diaspora Affairs Minister Michael Melchior has announced he will continue to convene a ministerial committee that is trying to solve the transport issue.

The first indication of how United Torah Judaism is likely to behave in the opposition was expected Wednesday, when the Sharm el-Sheik agreement was set for a Knesset vote.

"How we vote on the Sharm agreement will not be related to the Shabbat issue. We don't need to mix issues," United Torah Judaism leader Meir Porush said.

However, Porush felt strongly about moving the parts for the turbine-superheater.

"What pains me is that the government could have made preparations for the turbine to be transported midweek and didn't. This government on the one hand is doing everything to bring the Palestinians closer, while on the other hand pushing the religious further away, and that's a great pity."

Porush said he does not expect Shas or NRP to last long in the government if it continues to act this way.

Raphael Pinhasi, secretary of the Shas Council of Torah Sages, said his party "is making every effort to find a halachically acceptable solution under which the superheater will be transported on weekdays or on Shabbat by non-Jews which Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has ruled is permissible."

Yosef is Shas' spiritual leader.

Added Pinhasi: "As long as such a solution is found, we will be able to remain in the government. Otherwise there is a distinct possibility that we will quit, too."

NRP officials echoed Shas' assertion.

The Likud Party is standing firm on its refusal to consider joining the coalition even after United Torah Judaism's exit from the government and following Likud's election of Ariel Sharon as party leader last week.

Sharon has said repeatly that he will not take the party into the coalition. "From now on we will act as a fighting opposition," he said.