Political analysts are busy this morning trying to understand the significance of last night\'s vote by the Likud Central Committee against the establishment of a PLO state. Statements in recent months by Prime Minister Sharon in favor of a demilitarized PA state prompted some party leaders to convene the meeting and put the idea to a vote, in the hope that it would be defeated. Sentiment in the party was in fact against a Palestinian state, but Sharon was not willing to accept defeat. He daringly presented his own proposal last night to push off the vote. In a secret ballot, the party voted by a 59%-41% margin against his proposal, and then proceeded to vote overwhelmingly against a Palestinian state. Sharon appeared unmoved by the decision, saying he would continue to work with the best interests of the State of Israel in mind.
Although the main issue appeared to be that of a Palestinian state, the underlying tension was caused by the overt competition between two men: Prime Minister Sharon and his predecessor and would-be successor, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The latter spoke out strongly against the idea of a PA state, interspersed with light jabs at Sharon. He was followed by the Prime Minister and his own counter-jabs at Netanyahu. Excerpts from the speeches, including Netanyahu\'s arguments against a PA state and Sharon\'s reasoning against a vote at this point in time, can be read below in the order in which they were delivered.
Although the main issue appeared to be that of a Palestinian state, the underlying tension was caused by the overt competition between two men: Prime Minister Sharon and his predecessor and would-be successor, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The latter spoke out strongly against the idea of a PA state, interspersed with light jabs at Sharon. He was followed by the Prime Minister and his own counter-jabs at Netanyahu. Excerpts from the speeches, including Netanyahu\'s arguments against a PA state and Sharon\'s reasoning against a vote at this point in time, can be read below in the order in which they were delivered.