Olmert wins cabinet approval for far-right partner

JERUSALEM, Oct 30 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert won cabinet approval today for a far-right faction to join the government, a partnership likely to complicate any attempts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

The Yisrael Beitenu party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, advocates annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank and jurisdictional transfer of several Arab towns in Israel to a future Palestinian state.

The cabinet voted overwhelmingly to approve its membership, Israel Radio said. Parliament will ratify the decision later in the day. Yisrael Beitenu's 11 legislators will give Olmert's coalition control of 78 seats in the 120-member parliament, tightening his hold on power after an indecisive war against Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas last summer sent his popularity plummeting.

REUTERS SP BS1700