Prime Minister Sharon attempted to explain to the Cabinet this morning his controversial remarks over the weekend. He said that it is not currently realistic to expect seven days of quiet, and that therefore he is now willing to talk to the Palestinian Authority even under fire. The statement drew criticism from both right and left - and even a decision by the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party to quit the government.
The Labor party was to debate its continued membership in the government coalition this afternoon - but its Knesset faction head MK Effie Hoshaya announced that the issue had been removed from the agenda for now. Hoshaya explained that in light of Sharon\'s announcement, together with American mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni\'s expected arrival on Tuesday and the continued terrorism, the issue of leaving the government has been temporarily shelved.
The National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party, on the other hand, has announced its plans to quit the coalition. The party\'s seven MKs have asked the governing bodies of their respective parties - Tekumah, Moledet, and Yisrael Beiteinu - to convene immediately and ratify the decision. The MKs made the unanimous decision at an emergency meeting today, blaming the government\'s \"continued defeatism\" and Sharon\'s retreat from the principle of \"no negotiations under fire.\" Arutz-7\'s Yosef Zalmanson asked Asi Talmon, press aide for MK Tzvi Hendel, if the decision does not grant a victory to Labor, which will now apparently have more influence in the government. \"It\'s not a question of a victory,\" Talmon said, \"but rather a question of red lines. The party cannot remain in a government that gives up on something it has forever boasted it would never give up on.\" Talmon also said that Sharon is very \"pressured\" by NUYB\'s decision, and \"will work very hard to change it.\" Ministers Lieberman and Benny Elon are scheduled to submit their letters of resignation on Tuesday; the resignations are to take effect 48 hours later.
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky (Yisrael Beiteinu) raised doubts this morning about his own party\'s membership in the government, \"as 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.\"
Other reactions:
National Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman said,
\"It is inconceivable that Israel will be the only country that always concedes on its principles.\"
His party colleague MK Hendel, who has long been in favor of leaving the government, said,
\"The gang of Palestinian murderers has received another prize... Apparently, 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:
\"It\'s not true that Sharon was referring only to talks for a ceasefire; there would be nothing new in that. I\'m telling you clearly, he was referring to diplomatic talks.\"
Despite Rabbi Levy\'s certainty, some analysts insist that Sharon\'s \"retreat\" was merely tactical - something that would gain him points in the international diplomatic arena, and that substantial diplomatic negotiations could not take place in any event until the violence ceases. Sharon also said that he would continue to fight terrorism with all force, and that no agreement would be implemented under fire.
The Labor party was to debate its continued membership in the government coalition this afternoon - but its Knesset faction head MK Effie Hoshaya announced that the issue had been removed from the agenda for now. Hoshaya explained that in light of Sharon\'s announcement, together with American mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni\'s expected arrival on Tuesday and the continued terrorism, the issue of leaving the government has been temporarily shelved.
The National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party, on the other hand, has announced its plans to quit the coalition. The party\'s seven MKs have asked the governing bodies of their respective parties - Tekumah, Moledet, and Yisrael Beiteinu - to convene immediately and ratify the decision. The MKs made the unanimous decision at an emergency meeting today, blaming the government\'s \"continued defeatism\" and Sharon\'s retreat from the principle of \"no negotiations under fire.\" Arutz-7\'s Yosef Zalmanson asked Asi Talmon, press aide for MK Tzvi Hendel, if the decision does not grant a victory to Labor, which will now apparently have more influence in the government. \"It\'s not a question of a victory,\" Talmon said, \"but rather a question of red lines. The party cannot remain in a government that gives up on something it has forever boasted it would never give up on.\" Talmon also said that Sharon is very \"pressured\" by NUYB\'s decision, and \"will work very hard to change it.\" Ministers Lieberman and Benny Elon are scheduled to submit their letters of resignation on Tuesday; the resignations are to take effect 48 hours later.
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky (Yisrael Beiteinu) raised doubts this morning about his own party\'s membership in the government, \"as 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.\"
Other reactions:
National Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman said,
\"It is inconceivable that Israel will be the only country that always concedes on its principles.\"
His party colleague MK Hendel, who has long been in favor of leaving the government, said,
\"The gang of Palestinian murderers has received another prize... Apparently, 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:
\"It\'s not true that Sharon was referring only to talks for a ceasefire; there would be nothing new in that. I\'m telling you clearly, he was referring to diplomatic talks.\"
Despite Rabbi Levy\'s certainty, some analysts insist that Sharon\'s \"retreat\" was merely tactical - something that would gain him points in the international diplomatic arena, and that substantial diplomatic negotiations could not take place in any event until the violence ceases. Sharon also said that he would continue to fight terrorism with all force, and that no agreement would be implemented under fire.