Calls are increasingly being heard for Prime Minister Sharon to fire Foreign Minister Shimon Peres - but it is not clear where the pivotal Shas party stands. Shas leader Labor Minister Eli Yeshai told MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) that he agrees that Peres should be fired - but he later backtracked a bit, telling Voice of Israel that the national unity government is \"the most important asset Israel has and we will not act to dismantle it.\" He will meet with National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu leaders Ministers Ze\'evi and Lieberman on Sunday to discuss the matter. Hendel himself explained that his objective is not to bring down the unity government, but to \"prevent the government from pursuing the deranged diplomatic policy that Shimon Peres is leading.\"
Dr. Ron Breiman, of the Professors for a Strong Israel, also said that the increased violence of recent days is a natural outcome of Peres\' meeting with Arafat, and that therefore the nationalist camp should pressure Sharon to fire Peres. \"Whenever Israel shows weakness,\" Breiman told Arutz-7, \"Arafat understands that he can continue the Oslo war.\"
Dr. Ron Breiman, of the Professors for a Strong Israel, also said that the increased violence of recent days is a natural outcome of Peres\' meeting with Arafat, and that therefore the nationalist camp should pressure Sharon to fire Peres. \"Whenever Israel shows weakness,\" Breiman told Arutz-7, \"Arafat understands that he can continue the Oslo war.\"