Israeli Govt survives as Shas decides to stay on in coalition

The secular, left-wing Meretz party’s resignation from Barak’s coalition on Wednesday paved the way for Shas’s return 48 hours after its four ministers submitted resignations in a dispute over funding and control of Shas’s school system.

Shas’s decision was expected to make it easier for Barak to pursue peace with the Palestinians as the party’s spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef could back ceding land to Palestinians in order to preserve Jewish lives. But Shas political leaders say their support for any and all peace deals is not assured.