Israel: At Last, a Handshake for Unity

Labor and Likud sign on for five years of togetherness

Agreement had seemed within reach so often, only to slip away, that no one seemed surprised when the ceremony was delayed for five hours on Thursday. After all, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir had been up until 5 a.m. negotiating the last detail. Finally, at 3:45 p.m., the two met again in the Knesset basement. Sitting at a blue cloth-covered table and surrounded by colleagues, Labor Leader Peres and Likud Chief Shamir signed the accord that established a national unity government. Cognac glasses in hand, the new partners toasted the accomplishment...

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