TruthNews

"Barak Favors Early Elections Over Coalition With Livni"

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 2 Oct 2008

Labor chairman Ehud Barak favors going to elections over joining a Tzipi Livni-led coalition, his close associate MK Shalom Simhon, said Thursday.

"I think that it would be right to advance elections... out of consideration for what is good for Israel. In closed conversations with me, he [Barak] has backed my position," Simhon told The Jerusalem Post.

However, the agriculture minister wouldn't rule out coalition talks could eventually lead to a Livni-led coalition.

Livni spent the past few days of the Jewish New Year holidays hosting Barak as well as her defeated Kadima rival Shaul Mofaz for separate dinners at her north Tel Aviv home, but there was no reported progress in ongoing coalition talks.

"There is a good atmosphere, but our requests are not being answered," Barak's spokesman said after the dinner.