31.  Until then, with Barak out of the picture, Labor officials will have to review a platform agreement with Sharon and renegotiate the distribution of senior ministries.

32.  With Levy and his Gesher party, such a proposal would have a majority, Labor officials said.

33.  Opposition Labor Party officials said Netanyahu would find it difficult to rule with conviction in the wake of such criticism.

34.  A Ministry of Labor official said the company had agreed to pay laid off workers more than three months severance.

35.  But Labor officials said the oil price cuts would at least stabilize prices of basic goods and eventually benefit workers.

36.  But Labor officials have said they would shy away from such a partnership if a criminal shadow was hanging over the government.

37.  However, whoever has his proposal endorsed Thursday will have won a major political victory over the other, a Labor official said.

38.  It broke this week with reports that Labor officials were suspected of using millions of dollars belonging to the union to fund their political campaigns.

39.  Labor officials also ordered the airline to suspend any more layoffs.

40.  Labor officials believe the chance to become a republic within that time frame has now been lost.