Sharon, a Likud Party member, heads a minority government and has managed to stay in power partly because Labor did not vote against him. The Labor Party also helped him implement his plan to withdraw next year from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.
But Tuesday, Sharon indicated he could not co-opt Labor into his government because the majority in the Likud's Central Committee banned it.
Labor Chairman Shimon Peres estimated there is no majority in the incumbent cabinet for the pullback. Labor would, therefore, continue to support any move that advances peace, but will act as an opposition on all other matters, a senior Labor Party source told United Press International.
Labor might table a non-confidence motion in the government next week over the economic situation, he said.
A government report published Tuesday said 22.4 percent of Israel's citizens are poor and their numbers have increased during the past year.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International
