Today\'s weekly Cabinet meeting was delayed by a special security cabinet meeting earlier this morning. The meetings are being held in the shadow of the continuing murderous violence, the Israeli offensives, and Prime Minister Sharon\'s statement on Friday that he would in fact be willing to hold negotiations for a ceasefire under fire. Minister Natan Sharansky said this morning that he is not sure there is a purpose in remaining in the government, \"because the critical decisions are made above our heads [by Sharon, Ben-Eliezer and Peres].\" Sharansky said that the government ministers have been reduced to being \"representatives of the Chevra Kadisha [burial societies] who must explain government policy without having been involved in formulating it.\"
Sharon\'s statement of willingness to talk about a ceasefire while the violence continues - and his promise to fight terrorism with full force - is essentially no different than what he has said previously. However, his remarks may have gained him a few points in the international diplomatic arena, while angering some of his coalition partners on the right. National Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, \"It is inconceivable that Israel will be the only country that always compromises on its principles.\" MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), who has long been in favor of leaving the government, said, \"The gang of Palestinian murderers has received another prize; apparently, the Jew-killing pays off.\" In the opposition, leader Yossi Sarid (Meretz) said that Sharon should resign: \"It\'s too bad that he only now reached the conclusion that he must talk with the Palestinians.\" Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) said that Sharon\'s flexibility on his principles is reminiscent of Gumby.
Sharon\'s statement of willingness to talk about a ceasefire while the violence continues - and his promise to fight terrorism with full force - is essentially no different than what he has said previously. However, his remarks may have gained him a few points in the international diplomatic arena, while angering some of his coalition partners on the right. National Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, \"It is inconceivable that Israel will be the only country that always compromises on its principles.\" MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), who has long been in favor of leaving the government, said, \"The gang of Palestinian murderers has received another prize; apparently, the Jew-killing pays off.\" In the opposition, leader Yossi Sarid (Meretz) said that Sharon should resign: \"It\'s too bad that he only now reached the conclusion that he must talk with the Palestinians.\" Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) said that Sharon\'s flexibility on his principles is reminiscent of Gumby.