Barak Govt. loses more partners

JERUSALEM, JULY 9. The National Religious Party became the third faction to quit the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak's Government today, bolting his coalition over a U.S.-brokered peace summit with the Palestinians.

The right-wing National Religious Party's central committee decided unanimously to pull its five members out of Mr. Barak's coalition Government, a spokesman said. He said letters of resignation would be handed to Mr. Barak later today.

Earlier, the ultra-orthodox Shas Party said it was resigning from the Government and called on Mr. Barak not to make his peace mission to the United States.

The Interior Minister, Mr. Natan Sharansky, head of a right- leaning Russian immigrant party, personally submitted his resignation at noon today. By law, resignations take effect in 48 hours.

Mr. Sharansky told reporters outside the Prime Minister's office that Mr. Barak was going to Camp David without ``red lines'' marking the limits of concessions he is prepared to make.

``I tried everything to influence the process from within, now I am leaving the Government and I will act from outside,'' he said.

He then joined a group of supporters who had pitched a tent outside the Prime Minister's office. He said he would be in the tent everyday throughout the summit to enlist public opinion against concessions.

The NRP's departure, together with the loss of Mr. Sharansky's four-seat party and Shas's 17 lawmakers leave Mr. Barak with a shaky 42-78 minority in the 120-seat parliament. Mr. Barak's office said he would go to the summit in any event.

- Reuters

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