More Headaches For Netanyahu

JERUSALEM: Even as he is embroiled in painstaking negotiations over the Hebron agreement, Benjamin Netanyahu now may face eroding support at home. Israel radio reported Friday that two Israeli cabinet ministers of the religious Shas Party who initially supported the agreement now were considering abstaining or voting no. And Thursday night, one of Netanyahu's strongest supporters, Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi, said that he too would vote against a Hebron deal if Netanyahu commits to a new timetable for a troop withdrawal from West Bank rural areas. The defection of all three would prevent an agreement from taking effect. But for now, at least, "The threats have to be viewed with enormous skepticism," says TIME's Lisa Beyer. If a negotiated agreement is rejected, "Netanyahu would have to look toward rearranging the government" with a new coalition that could include the dovish Labor Party. "The hardliners would be essentially putting themselves out of business," she said, "and I don't think they're too anxious to do that." However, Beyer notes, "This does reflect that Netanyahu has a serious problem: that his government may be too right-wing to make the concessions necessary to keep the peace process alive." Some of his constituents are clearly not helping. Early Friday, Jewish families set up seven mobile homes on Artis Hill, disputed land near the West Bank settlement of Beit El. They were later joined by some 200 more swaying, praying settlers, who promised to build a new settlement on the site. Palestinian farmers say Artis Hill belongs to them. As both sides struggle to resolve the conflict, Arafat and U.S. envoy Dennis Ross must now deal with a somewhat weakened Israeli leader who is looking over his shoulder to gauge his support at home.