Amidst calls within the NRP for the party to quit the government, party leader Housing Minister Effie Eitam predicted today that this would not happen "at this time." Speaking with Arutz-7 today, he said that the decision would be constantly reviewed, and that coming developments could cause a change. "The right-wing has matured," he said, "and even Chanan Porat, who led the right-wing out of previous governments, is now much more moderate on this issue. Look, we represent a very large portion of the government - five of us voted against the Road Map [in the Cabinet], two Likud ministers joined us, and four others didn't vote against it only because the Road Map was made contingent upon the 14 reservations…"
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal: "In the final analysis, what did all this help? The Prime Minister managed to get the Road Map passed, and in two days he will make an international declaration the likes of which Rabin and Peres never made - namely, the recognition of a Palestinian state - so what do you have to lose by quitting?"
Eitam: "We have to see where is the best place for us to object to this process. If we cause this 'train' to pass through the stations of a stop to terrorism, dismantling of terror infrastructures, getting rid of Arafat, and the nullification of Right of Return - "
A-7: "Do you really believe that Sharon will insist on these conditions? Just two weeks ago he said he would not agree to a hudna (tactical cease-fire) on the part of the terrorists [but would instead insist that the PA disarm them] - and now he says he agrees!"
Eitam: "I don't say there are no risks involved in this process, but I still say that our potential for objecting [from within], with this large group of ministers, is greater than from the opposition - not to mention that [if we quit] Labor will immediately take our place in the government… If we achieve the above-mentioned things [stopping terrorism, no right of return, etc.], then we can always get off the train at a later date, but these achievements themselves will have been significant."