SHAS PARTY LEADER ELI YISHAI IN JERUSALEM MEETING WITH PARTY MEMBERS, 1999-12-27 (photo)

Eli Yishai (2nd-R) joins other party members in an argument December 27 in the party's Knesset offices over budget issues that might cause the party to bolt Prime Minister Ehud Barak's coalition government. Shas announced today that they intend to resign from the government of Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The party which provides 17 critical parliament seats has told Barak it will quit its coalition, and Barak has asked Yishai to wait 48 hours before taking a final decision. The issue is over millions of dollars in state budget funds that Shas is demanding for "social issues" such as religious schools. At left is Shas treasurer Rafael Pinhasi. JWH/WS