MK Ze\'ev Boim, Likud Knesset faction leader: \"Nothing really happened; the Likud platform [which negates an Arab state west of the Jordan River] was merely ratified. I don\'t think that the decision really changed anything, because the issue [of a PA state] is not really relevant at this time... If something changes, I assume Sharon will have to go back to the Central Committee and ask for its approval for whatever moves he wants to make.\"
Last night\'s meeting and vote left Finance Minister Silvan Shalom, who has his own hopes of being Prime Minister, very pessimistic: \"I think the Likud suffered last night, because whenever we have internal fighting we lose the government. We are great at toppling the government, whether we are in the opposition or in the coalition itself... Both Sharon and Netanyahu have to now gather the pieces and realize that we have to go forward united, together...\"
The Labor Party is making noises of dissatisfaction with the Likud decision. MK Avi Yechezkel said that the decision turned Sharon into a \"lame duck\" who can no longer advance the diplomatic process. MK Effie Oshaya said that if Sharon does not have the support of his own party, there is no reason for Labor to support him. Minister Dalia Itzik, however, said that the decision does not change the government guidelines, and that therefore Labor would not quit the coalition. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that if Netanyahu was Prime Minister, he would also support a Palestinian state.
The National Union party praised the party vote, but attacked Sharon\'s announcement that he would act in accordance with his own view of Israel\'s best interests. A party statement noted that Sharon is thus taking the path of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who attempted to lead a diplomatic process without parliamentary and public support.
The Yesha Council congratulated the Likud for its decision negating a Palestinian state. The Council, representing the Jewish communities of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, calls upon all the other Zionist parties to make a similar decision.
Last night\'s meeting and vote left Finance Minister Silvan Shalom, who has his own hopes of being Prime Minister, very pessimistic: \"I think the Likud suffered last night, because whenever we have internal fighting we lose the government. We are great at toppling the government, whether we are in the opposition or in the coalition itself... Both Sharon and Netanyahu have to now gather the pieces and realize that we have to go forward united, together...\"
The Labor Party is making noises of dissatisfaction with the Likud decision. MK Avi Yechezkel said that the decision turned Sharon into a \"lame duck\" who can no longer advance the diplomatic process. MK Effie Oshaya said that if Sharon does not have the support of his own party, there is no reason for Labor to support him. Minister Dalia Itzik, however, said that the decision does not change the government guidelines, and that therefore Labor would not quit the coalition. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that if Netanyahu was Prime Minister, he would also support a Palestinian state.
The National Union party praised the party vote, but attacked Sharon\'s announcement that he would act in accordance with his own view of Israel\'s best interests. A party statement noted that Sharon is thus taking the path of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who attempted to lead a diplomatic process without parliamentary and public support.
The Yesha Council congratulated the Likud for its decision negating a Palestinian state. The Council, representing the Jewish communities of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, calls upon all the other Zionist parties to make a similar decision.