News In Brief

Likud plans to leave coalition unless allied party gets stake

Israel's Likud bloc gave the Labor Party four days Wednesday to save the 98 -day unity government from collapse. The Likud caucus in parliament voted unanimously to follow its ally, the Shas Party, and bolt the government unless Shas gets a ministry.

Likud Cabinet ministers plan to meet today to decide whether to quit the government, but they would not submit their resignations until the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday.