Israel's next national elections will be held in less than three months' time - most probably on Jan. 28, 2003, the 25th of Sh'vat, 5763. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon exercised his right this morning to dissolve the Knesset and call elections for 90 days later, and President Moshe Katzav, whose approval of the move is legally required, made the official announcement at 9 AM today.
At one of several election-related press conferences this morning - given by Katzav, Labor, Knesset Speaker Burg and Binyamin Netanyahu - Sharon blamed both Labor and National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu for his decision to call early elections:
"The Labor Party decided last week to dismantle the unity government over a political caprice. This irresponsible behavior led to the unnecessary collapse of a government that reflected - and continues to reflect - the people's will for unity. An election at this time is not what the country needs." [Sharon also called new elections at this time the "least of all evils."] "Since the irresponsible departure of the Labor Party, I turned to various factions and personalities to stand with the government in the upcoming challenges. Unfortunately, demands and conditions were made, to which I could not accede… I will not change the basic guidelines of this Government. I will not undermine our strategic understandings with the United States. I will not endanger the special relationship that my government formed with the White House. I will not break the budgetary framework...
"Yesterday we all heard the statements made in the Knesset by the Chairman of the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party. We heard him state clearly that his faction would not join the government. We heard him make a long list of demands, expressing absolute objection to the establishment of a national unity government - today and in the future..."
The Prime Minister confirmed that his offer to Binyamin Netanyahu to become Foreign Minister [see below] still stood, "as long as he accepts with no preconditions.” He compared Netanyahu, who had agreed to take the post only on condition that early elections be held, with new Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, who agreed to join the government without conditions.
At one of several election-related press conferences this morning - given by Katzav, Labor, Knesset Speaker Burg and Binyamin Netanyahu - Sharon blamed both Labor and National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu for his decision to call early elections:
"The Labor Party decided last week to dismantle the unity government over a political caprice. This irresponsible behavior led to the unnecessary collapse of a government that reflected - and continues to reflect - the people's will for unity. An election at this time is not what the country needs." [Sharon also called new elections at this time the "least of all evils."] "Since the irresponsible departure of the Labor Party, I turned to various factions and personalities to stand with the government in the upcoming challenges. Unfortunately, demands and conditions were made, to which I could not accede… I will not change the basic guidelines of this Government. I will not undermine our strategic understandings with the United States. I will not endanger the special relationship that my government formed with the White House. I will not break the budgetary framework...
"Yesterday we all heard the statements made in the Knesset by the Chairman of the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party. We heard him state clearly that his faction would not join the government. We heard him make a long list of demands, expressing absolute objection to the establishment of a national unity government - today and in the future..."
The Prime Minister confirmed that his offer to Binyamin Netanyahu to become Foreign Minister [see below] still stood, "as long as he accepts with no preconditions.” He compared Netanyahu, who had agreed to take the post only on condition that early elections be held, with new Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, who agreed to join the government without conditions.