Meretz threatens to withdraw in case of Shas demands are accepted

The Leftist Israeli Meretz party threatened yesterday to withdraw from the Israeli governing coalition if Israeli PM Ehud Barak accedes to the demands of the religious Shas party. Shas is seeking authority to have certain educational authority be transferred from the Education ministry to itself. Zihafa Jal Oan, head of Meretz, said that his party's 3 ministers will present their resignation if Barak agrees to Shas' demands.