Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met new Labor Party leader Amir Peretz Thursday morning in Tel Aviv and the two agreed to advance the parliamentary elections to the end of February or early March.

Sharon's associates said a final decision is expected by Monday and will be made only after the prime minister has discussed the issue with other party leaders.

In an interview with Yedioth Ahranoth daily published on Thursday, Sharon said he agreed to advance the elections, originally set in November 2006, after Peretz pledged to take Labor out of Sharon's coalition.

If the Labor, which backed Sharon's disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip, quits Sharon's Likud-dominated coalition government, Sharon will lose a parliamentary majority and the government is likely to be brought down.

"The moment it became clear to me that the existing political structure was breaking up, I reached the conclusion that the best thing for the country is to have elections as quickly as possible, " Sharon told the paper. "If it is possible we shall go to the people in February," he added.

Sharon said an early election will prevent the nation wasting time on a lengthy election campaign.

After his talks with Peretz, Sharon will meet Shinui chairman and opposition leader Yosef Lapid on the issue.

A bill to dissolve the Knesset (parliament) will be brought to a preliminary reading vote on Monday.

By then, the Labor Party ministers will presumably resign from the government, since the party's central committee will meet to approve the move on Sunday.

Sharon, however, has refused to say whether he plans to remain in the Likud or establish a new party.

Meanwhile, Sharon's associates disclosed that he will announce his decision within the next few days so he can begin his campaign. Sharon already has all the data he needs to make his choice, including in-depth surveys.

Senior Likud officials believe that Sharon will decide to stick to the party, but the prime minister's aides said while he is leaning in this direction, he has not yet decided, and the option of starting his own party still remains.

"What interests Sharon is whether he will be able to conduct diplomatic moves and run the country," explained one.

Sharon said on Wednesday that he favored early elections, because "I don't intend to lead a minority government in our current complicated situation. I intend to win the elections, and there are many things I still want to do."

Sharon's chief rival in the Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu, urged him Wednesday to defer the elections until May to give people time to get tired of the newly elected Peretz. But Sharon decided to ignore this suggestion.

Source: Xinhua