National Religious Party leader Effie Eitam has said that he would join a coalition government even if the guidelines mention the American "Road Map" plan - as long as the establishment of a Palestinian state is not specifically mentioned. Asked about this distinction today, MK Benny Elon (National Union) told Arutz-7,
"I'm not sure if Eitam has seen the Road Map, which specifically mentions the establishment of a Palestinian state as its end-goal… I can only say this: We've tried a left-wing government and received Oslo, and we've tried with all sincerity a unity government, and we received a government of paralysis both economically and politically. We therefore have no interest in joining governments of this nature… For us to join a coalition with Shinui would simply be a waste of time, for it would be clear that the goal would be a Palestinian state. Our goal is for a government that has a chance to last its full term, with the NRP, Shas, etc., in which case we would be very liberal in our demands: We won't demand that the government guidelines be a replica of our own party platform, but only that it be clear that a Palestinian state will not be formed… We have no interest in making it difficult for Sharon for no reason with all sorts of declarations…"
MK Marina Solodkin of Yisrael B'Aliyah - which received only two seats in the recent election, leading to the resignation of party leader Natan Sharansky - told Arutz-7 today that her party's dismal showing demands that its leaders make a careful reckoning to determine its future: "We lost in the elections, and in the course of trying to recover, there are a few options of joining other existing parties. We are considering joining the Likud, but we have also received entreaties from the NRP, the National Union, and, informally, from centrist socialist parties..."
"I'm not sure if Eitam has seen the Road Map, which specifically mentions the establishment of a Palestinian state as its end-goal… I can only say this: We've tried a left-wing government and received Oslo, and we've tried with all sincerity a unity government, and we received a government of paralysis both economically and politically. We therefore have no interest in joining governments of this nature… For us to join a coalition with Shinui would simply be a waste of time, for it would be clear that the goal would be a Palestinian state. Our goal is for a government that has a chance to last its full term, with the NRP, Shas, etc., in which case we would be very liberal in our demands: We won't demand that the government guidelines be a replica of our own party platform, but only that it be clear that a Palestinian state will not be formed… We have no interest in making it difficult for Sharon for no reason with all sorts of declarations…"
MK Marina Solodkin of Yisrael B'Aliyah - which received only two seats in the recent election, leading to the resignation of party leader Natan Sharansky - told Arutz-7 today that her party's dismal showing demands that its leaders make a careful reckoning to determine its future: "We lost in the elections, and in the course of trying to recover, there are a few options of joining other existing parties. We are considering joining the Likud, but we have also received entreaties from the NRP, the National Union, and, informally, from centrist socialist parties..."