Minister Effie Eitam set off another round of controversy this morning with a string of insulting remarks against Minister Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer. He attacked the latter's insistence on using force to evacuate the outpost - for political reasons - in the face of agreements to the contrary, as well as his decision to cause the desecration of Sabbath and then not take responsibility for it. Eitam said that Ben-Eliezer agreed last week to leave two sheds at the Gilad Farm for agricultural use, then turned around and violated his word by giving orders to knock them down. Eitam, who reached the rank of Brig.-Gen. before retiring from the army almost two years ago, later retracted the personal insults, but said that his demand for Ben-Eliezer's resignation remained in effect, "as he has destroyed the trust between army commanders and their soldiers."
Prime Minister Sharon rebuked both Eitam and Ben-Eliezer at today's stormy Cabinet meeting: "I heard expressions of the utmost gravity by ministers this morning, that have no place between colleagues in the government. They are very grave…" He also expressed his "deep regret at the massive Sabbath desecration... that should not have happened." Referring to Ben-Eliezer's statement that he did not give orders to desecrate the Sabbath, Sharon said, "In the same way we demand that each minister use good judgment, we also demand that each minister show responsibility for the decisions having to do with his ministry."
Ben-Eliezer said in his defense, "We must not forget that the settlers are in life-threatening places, and saving lives overrides the Sabbath, and that the soldiers work for them all the time, including Sabbaths and holidays. The rebellion of the settlers against the regime is an existential danger, and if it weren't for their rebellion, there would be no need to do this… I intend to continue the evacuation til the end."
Prime Minister Sharon rebuked both Eitam and Ben-Eliezer at today's stormy Cabinet meeting: "I heard expressions of the utmost gravity by ministers this morning, that have no place between colleagues in the government. They are very grave…" He also expressed his "deep regret at the massive Sabbath desecration... that should not have happened." Referring to Ben-Eliezer's statement that he did not give orders to desecrate the Sabbath, Sharon said, "In the same way we demand that each minister use good judgment, we also demand that each minister show responsibility for the decisions having to do with his ministry."
Ben-Eliezer said in his defense, "We must not forget that the settlers are in life-threatening places, and saving lives overrides the Sabbath, and that the soldiers work for them all the time, including Sabbaths and holidays. The rebellion of the settlers against the regime is an existential danger, and if it weren't for their rebellion, there would be no need to do this… I intend to continue the evacuation til the end."