Leslie Slatkin of
Bloomfield Hills
plays with children
at the PACT
(Parents and
Children Together)
program .in
Netanya.

Coalition Politics

Failed budget vote shuffles the Israeli cabinet
and threatens Sharon's coalition.

unfolding coalition crisis.
Without Shas, which has 17 Knesset
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
seats, and UTJ, which has five, Sharon's
coalition will shrink from 82 to 60 of the
Jerusalem
sraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Knesset's 120 seats. Even so, Sharon's gov-
ernment is not in immediate danger of
is playing coalition hardball.
Two days after firing four cabi- collapse, because 61 votes are required to
bring down a government in a no-confi-
net ministers from the Orthodox
dence vote. Just the same, Sharon may
Shas Party for failing to support the gov-
pounded by the fact that they came
The day finally ended more than 30
have to depend more than ever on his
ernment's emergency economic plan,
from a society that is centuries
hours after it began.
uneasy partnership with the Labor Party.
Sharon said Wednesday he would not
removed from westernized and tech-
Early the next morning, the group
Political observers are questioning
change his mind. His stance is earning
nologically advanced modern Israel.
visited the Jean and Samuel Frankel
how far Sharon can go in depending on
him
points
among
some
Israelis,
who
School on Jerusalem's French Hill. The More than half of the arrivals do not
Labor, which is suffering its own internal
long have accused Shas of pursuing nar-
know Hebrew and have no media in
school provides 410 children with a
strains. Only 12 of the 24 Labor legisla-
row
self-interest.
their native Amharic language to help.
combined secular and religious educa-
tors voted for the budget bill
But others question the wis- .
Also, children adapt quickly to ways
tion modeled on the American Jewish
on Monday. One, Nawaf
ANAL
dom of Sharon's firings, aware
that are foreign to their parents,
Conservative movement's Solomon
Masalha, voted against, and
undermining the stability of their fam- that Shas support has been
Schechter day schools. Former
the remaining 11 members
crucial to the survival of more
ilies and communities.
Detroiter Barbara Levine pioneered
voted
with
their feet — by not being
than one Israeli government.
Detroit has been active in the devel-
the concept that includes a growing
present for the vote.
On_Wednesday,
the
Knesset
over-
opment and support of the newest and
network of schools across Israel.
The guiding hand behind the split
whelmingly approved the economic
largest program for Ethiopian Israelis,
Greeted by cheering students, the
in Labor's vote was Knesset member
package
—
after
Sharon
suffered
a
Parents and Children Together
children waved Israeli flags and did
Haim Ramon, a potential rival to
humiliating defeat when the package
(PACT). Much like America's Head
folk dances with the now wide-awake
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer for party leader-
went
down
to
defeat
two
days
earlier.
Start program, it provides critical sup-
participants.
ship — and an advocate for withdraw-_
port to families with newborn children With support from Likud and Labor
The performances and speeches by
ing from the unity government. The
legislators who had not taken part in
through age 6.
the students were enthusiastically
day after Monday's vote, Ben-Eliezer
Monday's vote, the Knesset on
PACT is built on the premise that
received, but the specter of terrorism
blasted those Labor members who
Wednesday gave preliminary approval
the child's education is a family issue;
provided a baCkdrop to the smiling
opposed the bill. Slamming the con-
vote,
with
seven
65-26
to the bill by a
because parents are the primary educa-
faces. Students said that their build-
ference table at a party meeting, Ben-
abstentions.
tors who must accompany, support
ing's caretaker and a school graduate
Eliezer declared, "The circus is over."
The
bill,
which
calls
for
budget
cuts
of
and assist the child throughout their
were killed in attacks, and that several
Some commentators hailed Sharon for
billion
and
raises
taxes
to
fund
the
$2.7
school-age years. The bond between
bombings and shootings near the
standing
up to the powerful Shas Party
increased defense spending necessitated
parent and child is strengthened
school had sent students rushing into
where
other
prime ministers, including
by the latest Palestinian intifada (upris-
through joint activities that include
the bomb shelter.
his
Labor
predecessor,
Ehud Barak, had
ing), now faces at least one more vote
Levine explained that extensive security home intervention, structured play to
capitulated.
Sharon
has
a number of
before final passage.
improvements, including new fences and develop motor and intellectual skills,
options
before
him,
they
said, including
Orthodox legislators from the Shas
nutrition, computers, socialization,
closed-circuit cameras, have necessitated
bringing the secular Shinui Party, which
Party,
who
opposed
the
bill
on
adult literacy, parenting classes and
cutting the school's education budget
has six Knesset seats, into the coalition.
Monday, absented themselves from
and that 30 percent of the children's fam- professional training.
Shinui leader Yosef Lapid said his
Wednesday's
vote.
After
firing
Shas
and
The language barrier was no prob-
ilies now are on welfare because of the
party believes the budget bill is "bad and
United
Torah
Judaism
ministers
and
lem as many Detroiters joined the
worsening Israeli economy.
faulty," but it abstained during
deputy ministers for opposing the bill
children in arts and crafts, a building
Marcia Baum of Detroit was ,
Wednesday's
vote "in order to send a
on Monday, Sharon remained firm
project and other learning games.
impressed and moved. "This visit
silent
sign
of
appreciation"
to Sharon.
Wednesday, saying the dismissals would
Leslie Slatkin of Bloomfield Hills
helped me recapture the feeling of
"For
the
first
time,
a
prime
minister
not be rescinded. A fifth Shas minister
Israel as a growing nation," she said. "I clearly enjoyed herself as she kicked
has
stood
up
to
the
blackmail"
of the
who is not a legislator resigned.
off her shoes and joined two little
have concerns about the future, but
fervently Orthodox parties, Lapid said.
The
dismissals
were
slated
to
take
[when I look at the children], I see the Ethiopian girls, Tova and Herut, as
He added his party would join the coali-
effect Wednesday evening unless a com-
they rolled around in a long, colorful,
music in their hearts and the most
tion if the government does away with
promise
was
worked
out.
flexible tube.
beautiful hope in their eyes. The
subsidies to large families and drafts
Opinion
polls
published
Wednesday
school is full of hope and excitement."
Orthodox yeshiva students.
showed wide public support for Sharon's
Mission participants learned that
Shas legislator Yair Peretz predicted
move.
Park Hotel Leaves Impression
much of Detroit's efforts with children
early
elections if Sharon brings Shinui
After announcing the firings late
Silence, introspection and some tears
focus on meeting the needs of
into
the
government. "If the prime min-
Monday night, Sharon reportedly
Ethiopian Israeli community of 80,000. were the reactions as the group
ister thinks of building a coalition with
instructed
aides
to
break
off
all
contact
roamed what was left of the dining
The group traveled north to visit sever-
Labor and Shinui, I believe that within
with Shas officials, including refusing to
room in Netanya's Park Hotel, the
al of these programs in Netanya.
one month we will find ourselves in an
take
their
phone
calls.
He
also
convened
Ethiopian Israelis suffer all the chal-
his
political
advisers
to
discuss
the
COALITION POLITICS on page 23
lenges of immigrant populations, corn- HEROES on page 19

NAOMI SEGAL

I

YSIS

g gai

5/24
2002

17