Quds city, Dec 10, SPA -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon invited the Labor Party into his governing coalition on Friday, a day after winning approval from the ruling Likud Party to bring its traditional rival back into the government, a Labor spokesman said. Sharon called Labor leader Shimon Peres early Friday to invite him to open negotiations about forming a new coalition, said Yoram Dori, a spokesman for Peres. Israel Radio said Sharon also planned to invite the religious parties United Torah Judaism and Shas into the coalition. Sharon needs Labor's support to shore up his coalition government and push forward with his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip next year. Hard-line opposition has left Sharon with a minority coalition of just 40 seats in the 120-member parliament.
