ISRAEL'S NEW GOVERNMENT, LED BY EHUD OLMERT, WILL BE SWORN IN ON THURSDAY, A PARLIAMENTARY OFFICIAL SAID ON MONDAY. "THE KNESSET WILL CONVENE ON THURSDAY TO VOTE ON THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S GUIDELINES AND TO SWEAR IT IN," THE OFFICIAL SAID. OLMERT'S CENTRIST KADIMA PARTY, WHICH CAME IN FIRST IN ISRAEL'S MARCH 28 ELECTION, HAS SEALED COALITION DEALS WITH SEVERAL FACTIONS, GIVING IT CONTROL OF 67 OF PARLIAMENT'S 120 SEATS. THE PARLIAMENTARY OFFICIAL SPOKE TO REPORTERS AS HE AWAITED THE FORMAL FILING IN THE KNESSET'S CHIEF CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY GUIDELINES. UNDER ISRAELI LAW, PARLIAMENT CAN CONVENE 24 HOURS AFTER THE DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND RATIFY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. BUT THE MARKING OF ISRAEL'S ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE AND INDEPENDENCE DAYS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MEANS THE VOTE WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL THURSDAY. OLMERT, CURRENTLY ACTING PRIME MINISTER, PLANS TO PURSUE A PLAN TO WITHDRAW UNILATERALLY FROM ISOLATED SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK WHILE BOLSTERING OTHER SETTLEMENT BLOCS IN THE ABSENCE OF PEACEMAKING WITH THE PALESTINIANS. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS HAVE SAID SUCH A MOVE WOULD BLOCK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VIABLE PALESTINIAN STATE IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS.
