The National Religious Party and Shas both blame Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer's political problems within the Labor Party for the Gaza First agreement - but the NRP may actually be doing something about it. Government Minister Effie Eitam and MK Sha'ul Yahalom say that the agreement may make their continued membership in the government untenable. "This agreement signed with Arafat - and not with Dahlan; let's not fool ourselves - is an unbelievable folly," Eitam told Arutz-7 today. "As if we hadn't lost over 600 terrorism victims already… Once again, the Labor Party, because of narrow political interests, is reviving Arafat just when he was on the ropes... These experiments are costing us in blood."
A final decision on whether to quit or not will be made tomorrow when the party MKs meet after the Cabinet meeting. "We will convene tomorrow," Eitam said, "after the Cabinet meeting where Sharon will have a chance to explain himself…"
Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) claims that the power struggle within Labor is what led Ben-Eliezer to initiate the agreement. Shas Knesset faction head MK Ya'ir Peretz said that the PA has not yet assumed security control in Gaza, "but if an attack were to occur in Bethlehem now, I would immediately advise Sharon to cancel the agreement and re-take control."
A final decision on whether to quit or not will be made tomorrow when the party MKs meet after the Cabinet meeting. "We will convene tomorrow," Eitam said, "after the Cabinet meeting where Sharon will have a chance to explain himself…"
Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) claims that the power struggle within Labor is what led Ben-Eliezer to initiate the agreement. Shas Knesset faction head MK Ya'ir Peretz said that the PA has not yet assumed security control in Gaza, "but if an attack were to occur in Bethlehem now, I would immediately advise Sharon to cancel the agreement and re-take control."