The more you save the more you earn with our "Premier" Money Market Account. Coalition Building Looking toward disengagement, Sharon and Peres are talking unity. DAN BARON Jewish Telegilaphic Agency Jerusalem W ith an eye toward withdraw- ing Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres, lifelong friends and career rivals, are back at their old game of government building. 0. Negotiators for Prime Minister Sharon and opposition leader Peres met early this week for what looked to be a very short round of talks on forg- ing a unity coalition after their respec- tive parties approved the union last week. Sharon hopes to unveil Israel's new government next week. Labor, the main opposition party, already is on board, though it remains unclear how many Cabinet portfolios it will get. Political sources said Dec. 13 that talks between Sharon's Likud Party and the influential Orthodox party Shas were close to fruition and that a new, broad coalition would be in place within a week. But media reports also indicated that Shas — whose spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has ruled against pulling out of Gaza — was demand- ing as a condition for joining the coalition that party members be allowed to vote their conscience when the actual withdrawal comes to a vote. According to the reports, though, party insiders said it was unlikely the issue would keep Shas out of Sharon's government. Sharon apparently wooed Shas by vowing to undo anti-religious legisla- tion pursued by Sharon's former coali- tion partner, the secularist Shinui Party. Another religious party, United Torah Judaism, also may join the gov- ernment in a bid by Sharon to off-set Labor's bargaining power. Likud negotiators met with a group from UTJ. According to reports, the fervently Orthodox party is seeking three senior government posts and chairmanship of a key committee. Meanwhile, Peres' Labor Party did not even make specific demands for Cabinet posts in throwing a political lifeline to Sharon, who recently lost his parliamentary majority. "Let's be clear on this: There will be a government," Labor's Haim Ramon told Army Radio. "The question is whether we join this government with significant Cabinet portfolios, or with- 0111. Under Peres, Labor has set a high premium on helping Sharon push through his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank next year. While media reports suggest Peres could be rewarded with a tailor- made post of "disengagement minis- ter" in the next government, the Labor leader has made no mention of any such payback. "We expect to see a deal within days," he told reporters Dec. 11. But Sharon also needs help passing the battered 2005 budget, which Shinui blocked in the Knesset on Dec. 1 to protest funding for religious caus- es. Sharon fired Shinui for not voting in line with him. Palestinian Vote At the same time, Israel has been tacit- ly encouraging the campaign to find a successor to the late Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat in Jan. 9 Palestinian elections. The fron- trunner, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, looked almost certain to get a boost after his main rival for the presidency, jailed West Bank militia leader Marwan Barghouti, said through con- fidants that he would withdraw from the race. Significantly, however, Abbas agreed Dec. 12 to Barghouti's demand that he include support for "armed resist- ance" on his platform as the candidate of Fatah, the main PLO faction. The Israeli Cabinet approved in principle the release of as many as 200 Palestinian security prisoners on con- dition that they're not serving sen- tences for terrorist attacks that killed or seriously hurt Israelis. Israeli offi- cials described the measure as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who last week granted accused Israeli spy Azzam Azzam an early release from prison. But Israeli officials also acknowl- edged that the releases could boost Abbas' prestige among Palestinians.1 I Cif Extra Bonus! Besides the highest rates available, we're also offering a FREE G114 -1` when you open your account! id MICHIGAN HERITAGE Let us lend a hand vomv.miheritage.com FDIC Insured *3.01% Annual Percentage Yield is etkctive as of November 16, 2004, and applies to account balances over $100,000. if AV balance falls below 52.500, a $7.50 monthly statement fee applies. Rates subjal to change without notice. Any fees incurred will reduce your eamtngs. Reduced interrst ratess on lower balances. Contact (800) 914-3524 for details. Novi 21211 Haagerty North of P>'-Mile (888) 437-8243 Troy 1917 East Big Beaver At John R Rd. (248) 619-0264 Farmington Hills 28300 Orchard Lake Rd. Suite 101. (800) 914-3524 4.V61 12/17 2004 919600 11