Jerusalem

Monday, November 14, 1988

Shamir accepts nod to form new Israeli government

Above: The Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites, with the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque in the background, some of Islam's holiest places; Below: A bedouin encampment at the bottom left with a hilltop Israeli settlement at the back right.

Jerusalem

By David Alexander

JERUSALEM (UPI) -- Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir accepted the task of forming a new government Monday, promptly vowing to crush the Palestinian rebellion and rejecting any suggestion of peace talks with the PLO.

He also sought to reassure American Jews that the Conservative and Reform movements will not be branded outlaws through legislation proposed by the two ultra-Orthodox religious parties as a price for their joining his coalition government.

Further, Shamir appealed to Shimon Peres, the head of the left-leaning Labor Party, to join his rightist Likud Party and two the ultra-religious groups in forming a "national unity" government, Israel's 23rd government in 40 years. The possibility of such a government seemed remote.

With Shamir having put together a potential coalition commanding a 63-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament, President Chaim Herzog formally asked him to lead the next government. Labor was only able to put together 55 seats.

"Thank your very much, Mr. President for entrusting me with the important task of forming the Israel government, (a job) which carries with it a great deal of responsibility," Shamir said.

"The government I succeed in forming -- if, God willing, I succeed - will view as one of its primary objectives the making of a tremendous effort to promote the peace process and to arrive at a dialogue and an agreement with our neighbors," he said.

Shamir now has 21 days to reconcile the competing demands of the right-wing secular and religous political parties that support his leadership. If he is unable to put together a governing coalition in that time, he can ask for a 21-day extention.

Speaking to reporters after the decision was announced, Shamir denied that an alliance between Likud and religious fundamentalist political parties would make it more difficult to achieve peace in the Middle East.

"I don't think it will make it more complicated because the chances of getting peace with our neighbors depends mainly on our neighbors, not on ourselves," he said.

The prime minister ruled out any negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, regardless of whether the Palestine National Council recognizes Israel during its current under way in Algiers.

"We will not negotiate with the PLO," Shamir said. "We know very well the philosophy, the ideology of this movement and, therefore, we will not negotiate with them because they are opposed to peace."

He also dismissed a plan by the PNC, the Palestinian parliament-in-exile, to declare an independent state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Nothing will happen," he said. "Nothing will change in our country, in the territories."

The declaration of independence is widely viewed in Israel as a Palestinian gambit to reap political gains from the 11-month-old uprising against 21 years of Israeli occupation in the territories. At least 295 Palestinians and seven Israelis have died in the violence that began Dec. 9.

"We will make every effort to put an end to the violence we are facing now in the territories," Shamir said.

For decades, largely secular Israeli governments have fought off demands by the religious minority that the question of who is a Jew be defined by law. Such a law would deny Israeli citizenship to anyone who was not converted to Judaism by the Orthodox faith, which would exclude Conservative and Reform Jews.

Shamir sought to reassure Jews outside Israel, chiefly in the United States, that such a law would not be passed.

"All of us want to see unity among our people and unity between the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the Jewish people all over the world," he said. "We will do everything possible to breach the gaps and to bring the parties to an understanding."

Herzog offered Shamir the opportunity to form the government after two ultra-Orthodox religious parties, Shas and Agudat Israel, threw their support to the Likud Sunday.

A third religious party, the two-seat Torah Flag, or Degel Hatorah, did not join either Likud or Labor, saying it preferred a coalition of both.

In agreeing to form the government, Shamir called on the other parties, chiefly Labor, to join his coalition, saying "that a government so structured provides a good answer ... to the country's needs and problems."

He said a linking of Likud and Labor would "move the country forward toward the fulfillment of its goals."

"I have always supported a broad-based government, what we called a national unity government four years ago. I will endeavor to persuade all elements in the public, in order to enable us to once again form such a government."

Peres told Israel Radio that another Likud-Labor government was unlikely. But the radio said he later accepted an invitation to meet with Shamir. Sources close to the Labor Party said Peres was concerned he would lose the leadership of the party if it remained out of the government.

A source close to the Labor Party said the chances of Labor joining a Likud coalition were "close to nil."

Both Peres and Shamir played down the possibility of another unity government during the elections. Political experts warned against another such coalition, saying it gave voters no strong opposition to support if they were dissatisfied with the status quo.

The Labor Party was in the opposition when the Likud scored an upset victory in the 1977 election and formed a government with Menachem Begin as prime minister.