Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's bureau on Thursday evening ordered a halt to coalition talks with the opposition Labor Party following Labor chief negotiator Dalia Itzik's insulting comments.  

"You want us to join the coalition with portfolios, don't give us crumbs," Itzik scoffed, referring to Likud's reluctant offer of cabinet posts.

"You want us inside, and we want to have influence," said Itzik ahead of a meeting with her Likud's counterpart Raved.

Earlier in the evening, Likud negotiators offered Labor eight ministerial posts, putting the two sides closer than ever to reaching an agreement to bring Labor into a national unity government.

The offer, which also includes three deputy minister positions, came as Itzik told Israel Radio that her party demands control of influential ministries since the Likud is unwilling to accept Labor's option of entering the government without specific portfolios.

Sharon has offered Labor the Interior Ministry, as requested, as well as five other ministries and a special deputy prime ministerial slot for Labor Chairman Shimon Peres.

Itzik scoffed at the "greed" in the Likud Party, which she said didn't want to offend senior ministers such as Limor Livnat, Silvan Shalom or Ehud Olmert by parting with their portfolios -- education, foreign affairs, and industry and trade respectively.

Itzik told the radio that Labor does not plan to give up its principles of support for the disengagement plan, improvement of financial situations and retention of the religious status quo.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2004)