Labour willing to join Sharon's government

ISRAEL'S opposition Labour Party indicated yesterday it was willing to join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government boosting efforts to implement a Gaza pull-out plan after a corruption case against the premier was dropped.

Israel's attorney general closed a bribery case against Sharon yesterday, ending months of uncertainty over his political future.

The decision cleared the way for Mr Sharon to court Labour, which said it would consider joining the government only if the prime minister was cleared of corruption allegations. Mr Sharon needs the moderate Labour Party to restore the parliamentary majority he lost as a result of the dismissal or defection of Cabinet hard-liners opposed to a Gaza withdrawal.

He wants to remove Israeli soldiers and settlers from Gaza by the end of 2005. Unlike Mr Sharon, Labour favours withdrawing from most of the West Bank as well.

Labour Party leader Shimon Peres said he was glad for Mr Sharon, but so far his party had not been asked to begin formal talks about joining the government.

Mr Peres gave a clear indication that when the question comes, the answer would be positive: "The Labour Party has only one consideration: what will promote peace, what will hasten the evacuation of the Gaza Strip." Dalia Itzik, the leader of the Labour caucus in parliament, said her party would demand a change in economic policy and certain portfolios if negotiations open.

"I have to say honestly that I don't think he's so interested in having us join. It is very comfortable for him at the moment with us providing him with a security net," Ms Itzik said, referring to the party's decision to support Mr Sharon in no-confidence motions.

Mr Sharon and Labour teamed up during Mr Sharon's first term from 2001 to 2003, but the government broke apart over the issue of funding settlements.