ISRAEL: In what appeared to be a bid to neutralise his main political rival in the right-wing Likud party, the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, yesterday met the former prime minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, and offered him the post of foreign minister.
The meeting, which took place at Mr Sharon's sheep farm in the southern Negev desert, was part of the prime minister's efforts to hammer together a narrow coalition after the moderate Labour Party bolted his government on Wednesday over a budget dispute.
Neither man spoke to reporters. Speculation before the meeting was that Mr Netanyahu, who has attacked Mr Sharon for not being tough enough on the Palestinians, would turn down the offer because he hopes to challenge for the party leadership in a primary to be held before the next national election.
But the two men agreed to continue meeting tomorrow, and there was speculation in the Likud that they might be discussing a broader political deal whereby Mr Netanyahu would drop his challenge to Mr Sharon, would run as the prime minister's number two in the next elections and would then replace Mr Sharon as prime minister half- way through his term.
Even without the broader deal, by bringing Mr Netanyahu into his government, Mr Sharon would effectively mute criticism from the former prime minister.
Mr Sharon's aides are due to begin coalition talks tomorrow.