(Oct.15- 07:17 standard time) In light of the IDF withdrawal during the night from the Givat Shalhevet (Abu Sneineh) and Harat el-Sheik neighborhoods in Hevron, the National Union-Yisrael Beitenu faction of the coalition government has decided to resign in an act of protest. The move comes seven months following the formation of the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. IDF forces during the night were ordered to withdraw from the Hevron neighborhoods after taking up their position nine days earlier.
The troop withdrawal was accompanied by a political storm over comments made to the media on Sunday by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, who expressed his opposition to the move ordered by the government. Mofaz warned that the withdrawal at this time would likely result in increased terrorism and place Hevron’s Jewish community in danger. Mofaz’s remarks resulted in threats of dismissal from Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer at the Sunday weekly cabinet meeting.
Faction leaders met throughout the night arriving at the decision to leave the coalition during the early morning hours. Minister of National Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman who heads the Yisrael Beitenu faction will resign along with his colleague Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze’evi of the National Union faction. The move will result in eight less mandates in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s national unity coalition government but more importantly, leave the coalition without the right-wing nationalistic element since the National Religious Party is also in the opposition.
Analysts were quick to issue statements that the prime minister has reason for concern despite a majority of 76 of the 120-member Knesset. With all the right-wing parties in opposition, the coalition has become increasingly fragile from both the opposition and from within, with the new realization that the Labor Party headed by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres wields increasing power -- having become an even more integral portion of the coalition reality. The move comes at a time when relations between Sharon and Peres remain strained over disagreements concerning the future of the Oslo process between Israel and the PA.
Earlier in the week, National Union coalition leader MK Rabbi Binyamin Elon announced he would be resigning from his position, explaining that Sharon was falling short of his campaign promises to combat terrorism and return security to Israel. Elon stated the government was not fulfilling the mandate given to it by the people, the electorate that opted to bring Sharon to power in an unprecedented election victory over the incumbent, Ehud Barak. As such, Elon preceded his colleagues telling them that he was no longer bound by party discipline and would act accordingly in future Knesset votes.
The troop withdrawal was accompanied by a political storm over comments made to the media on Sunday by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, who expressed his opposition to the move ordered by the government. Mofaz warned that the withdrawal at this time would likely result in increased terrorism and place Hevron’s Jewish community in danger. Mofaz’s remarks resulted in threats of dismissal from Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer at the Sunday weekly cabinet meeting.
Faction leaders met throughout the night arriving at the decision to leave the coalition during the early morning hours. Minister of National Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman who heads the Yisrael Beitenu faction will resign along with his colleague Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze’evi of the National Union faction. The move will result in eight less mandates in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s national unity coalition government but more importantly, leave the coalition without the right-wing nationalistic element since the National Religious Party is also in the opposition.
Analysts were quick to issue statements that the prime minister has reason for concern despite a majority of 76 of the 120-member Knesset. With all the right-wing parties in opposition, the coalition has become increasingly fragile from both the opposition and from within, with the new realization that the Labor Party headed by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres wields increasing power -- having become an even more integral portion of the coalition reality. The move comes at a time when relations between Sharon and Peres remain strained over disagreements concerning the future of the Oslo process between Israel and the PA.
Earlier in the week, National Union coalition leader MK Rabbi Binyamin Elon announced he would be resigning from his position, explaining that Sharon was falling short of his campaign promises to combat terrorism and return security to Israel. Elon stated the government was not fulfilling the mandate given to it by the people, the electorate that opted to bring Sharon to power in an unprecedented election victory over the incumbent, Ehud Barak. As such, Elon preceded his colleagues telling them that he was no longer bound by party discipline and would act accordingly in future Knesset votes.