Labor Party officials announced today that they would not join a national unity government headed by Ariel Sharon. Labor thus hopes to retrieve voters who have migrated to the anti-religious Shinui party. Party leader Amram Mitzna has long been in favor of this strategy, while Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and others have agreed to go along. It is not certain, however, whether the party will retain this strategy the day after the elections.
Meir Nitzan, Mayor of Rishon LeTzion, heads a group of Labor Party activists who are demanding that the party organs convene to "discuss" Mitzna's decision not to join a Sharon-led unity government. Central Committee members were quoted as saying today that it's important "for the country, even if not for the party," to join a national unity government.
Education Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) said that Labor's new position would hurt the party, "as most of the public wants a unity government."
In the meantime, the Labor Party has already written up a plan for the withdrawal it plans for Gaza. The program states that each Jewish community will be offered three choices: transfer to new location in the Aravah, northern Negev or Halutza areas; total dismantling, with financial compensation for each family; or joining an existing community elsewhere in pre-1967 Israel.
Meir Nitzan, Mayor of Rishon LeTzion, heads a group of Labor Party activists who are demanding that the party organs convene to "discuss" Mitzna's decision not to join a Sharon-led unity government. Central Committee members were quoted as saying today that it's important "for the country, even if not for the party," to join a national unity government.
Education Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) said that Labor's new position would hurt the party, "as most of the public wants a unity government."
In the meantime, the Labor Party has already written up a plan for the withdrawal it plans for Gaza. The program states that each Jewish community will be offered three choices: transfer to new location in the Aravah, northern Negev or Halutza areas; total dismantling, with financial compensation for each family; or joining an existing community elsewhere in pre-1967 Israel.