The nationalist camp is trying to keep calm in the face of indications that Sharon is making progress towards forming a government that could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi (Likud), who has long been an opponent of a Palestinian state, told Israel Radio this morning that nothing has changed: "I don’t know exactly what was said [at the Sharon-Mitzna meeting], but Sharon is being consistent: For the past two years he has been saying that he is willing to make painful compromises for the sake of a national unity government."
Asked if he and other right-wingers could live with these compromises, such as a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "We lived with this for two years, when we sat together with Labor in the same government. At present, though, what is at hand is the war against terror, followed by diplomatic negotiations, and then the Palestinians must fulfill a long series of things - fight terror, carry out reforms, marginalize Arafat..." He said that this would take 2-3 years, and that Sharon "said a few days ago that every agreement would [have to] be approved by the government, and that every minister would have a chance to express himself on the matter."
Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA notes that this contrasts sharply with HaNegbi's strong stand of less than two months ago. At the time, in response to a request/demand by Prime Minister Sharon that the Likud ministers support his positions on matters such as the establishment of a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "I haven't been a member of the Likud for over two decades in order to find myself supporting a Palestinian state."
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) told Arutz-7 today,
"Prime Minister Sharon told his own party that he doesn't accept its decision [of a few months ago] against a Palestinian state, and he has long said that he wants a unity government... Regarding his 'painful concessions,' he said this before the elections, and unfortunately many people, even in Yesha, voted for him. But that's past history; our party representatives will be talking with his this afternoon, and I hope that we can come to an understanding and form a right-wing government... It's not that I think there is nothing to do [about Sharon's sharp veer to the left]. The public can act in extra-parliamentary groups, as it has in the past, and the MKs can also act."
Asked to predict what kind of government would arise, Ariel said, "I'd say there is a 51% chance of a right-wing government, and 49% that it will include Labor."
Asked if he and other right-wingers could live with these compromises, such as a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "We lived with this for two years, when we sat together with Labor in the same government. At present, though, what is at hand is the war against terror, followed by diplomatic negotiations, and then the Palestinians must fulfill a long series of things - fight terror, carry out reforms, marginalize Arafat..." He said that this would take 2-3 years, and that Sharon "said a few days ago that every agreement would [have to] be approved by the government, and that every minister would have a chance to express himself on the matter."
Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA notes that this contrasts sharply with HaNegbi's strong stand of less than two months ago. At the time, in response to a request/demand by Prime Minister Sharon that the Likud ministers support his positions on matters such as the establishment of a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "I haven't been a member of the Likud for over two decades in order to find myself supporting a Palestinian state."
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) told Arutz-7 today,
"Prime Minister Sharon told his own party that he doesn't accept its decision [of a few months ago] against a Palestinian state, and he has long said that he wants a unity government... Regarding his 'painful concessions,' he said this before the elections, and unfortunately many people, even in Yesha, voted for him. But that's past history; our party representatives will be talking with his this afternoon, and I hope that we can come to an understanding and form a right-wing government... It's not that I think there is nothing to do [about Sharon's sharp veer to the left]. The public can act in extra-parliamentary groups, as it has in the past, and the MKs can also act."
Asked to predict what kind of government would arise, Ariel said, "I'd say there is a 51% chance of a right-wing government, and 49% that it will include Labor."