Prime Minister Sharon himself said that today was a "difficult" day for him, and that the choice was between "the least of the evils." He said that the reservations included in today's resolution represent Israel's "red lines." In this morning's Yediot Acharonot newspaper, however, he was quoted as singing a slightly different tune: "It's time to divide the land," Sharon told the paper, following his fairly sudden decision to accept the Road Map plan. "No one can compete with me over these areas. I am connected to these parts of the land that we will be required to leave no less than those who are speaking so stridently [in favor of the Land of Israel and against the plan]."
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had earlier said he would vote against the plan. However, when the resolution brought to vote stated that the plan would be implemented only "contingent upon Israel's 14 reservations," he agreed to abstain.
Minister Ehud Olmert said before the meeting that the Road Map was bad, yet he voted for it. Defense Minister Mofaz said the same a few days ago, but explained that he was not voting for the plan, but rather for the "package of understandings with the U.S., which include Israel's reservations against the plan."
Minister Tzippy Livny had an interesting approach. She said that she accepts the two-state solution in principle, but is worried that merely pushing off the 'right of return' issue might lead to the flooding of Israel with millions of Arab 'refugees' in the future. "There is a national consensus against this now," she said, "but we don't know what will be in the future." The Foreign Ministry's legal counsel was called to the meeting to explain the dangers of the 'right of return.' Minister Livny distributed to the ministers a position paper on the dangers of the 'right of return,' and only after an accompanying resolution against the 'right of return' was formulated did she agree to vote in favor of the Road Map.
Minister Benny Elon said that the ministers could not be expected to vote on a plan of this magnitude on such short notice. "We have not even been given a Hebrew translation of the document," he lamented.
Minister Natan Sharansky said that Prime Minister Sharon always promised that the Road Map would not be brought for a Cabinet vote without a deep and intense discussion and debate - contrary to what in fact happened today.
Education Minister Limor Livnat, who has expressed opposition to the plan in the past, proposed that the Cabinet include a declaration that there would be no Palestinian state until the terrorist bases are totally and completed uprooted; no compromise on the 'right of return;' no return to the '67 borders; and no division of Jerusalem. This proposal was also debated in the Cabinet today, but was not voted upon.
Likud MK Michael Eitan told Arutz-7 this morning that though the Road Map plan is dangerous, "now is not necessarily the time to vote against it." He said that Israel's 14 reservations must be implemented, and that if the dangers in fact materialize, "we will be able to stop it then." He said that we must not be the ones to destroy whatever small chance for peace currently exists.
Minister without portfolio Gideon Ezra took a similar position while speaking with Voice of Israel this morning. He said that he is confident that if the PA does not honor its obligations, Prime Minister Sharon will put an end to Road Map progress.
Coalition head Gideon Saar, a Likud MK, said that the Road Map in its current framework is "a dangerous diplomatic document that includes the Saudi initiative, which returns Israel to the May 1967 borders on all fronts and divides Jerusalem."
Opposition leader MK Dalia Itzik (Labor) rejoiced in the decision: "The government finally understood that which the Labor Party has been saying for years. The Road map is a victory for Labor's way." Other left-wing politicians echoed her satisfaction, though some were already looking ahead: "Sharon's intentions will be tested by whether he removes 100 outposts or not," said Labor MK Amram Mitzna.