The Likud Knesset faction convened this afternoon for a closed session with Prime Minister Sharon - and though reporters were not allowed in, it was easy to guess that it was to be a stormy one. Several MKs planned to attack Sharon for his apparent plan to uproot isolated Jewish communities in Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), expel their residents, and recognize a Palestinian state. They said they would emphasize that Sharon has clearly strayed from the Likud party platform, which specifically negates the above elements.
The Yesha Council (Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) is planning a petition in which signatories commit to trying to bring down the government if the plan is implemented. In the meantime, the Council has expressed disappointment with the right-wing parties - the NRP and the National Union - for what it calls their "relative quiet" at the news of Sharon's intentions. The National Union's Tourism Minister Benny Elon said yesterday that his impression was that Sharon was not planning any such steps, at least not in the near future nor without consulting the government first. In any event, Elon said, "it is obvious that we will not sit in a government that uproots Jewish communities. In such a case, either we go, or Sharon goes."
Staffers of the Prime Minister's Bureau say that the "uprooting of Netzarim and the establishment of a Palestinian state are still far off." They ask the right-wing to judge Sharon "by his actions, not by his declarations."
Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon, asked if he would leave the Likud Party over the alleged plan, said, "Whoever submits such a plan [to uproot Jewish communities] should leave the Likud, not me." MK Inbal Gavrieli said, "I have lost confidence in the Likud Cabinet ministers... They are being dragged along by the 15 left-wingers of [Shinui]." Other Likud MKs who object to Sharon's plan are Gila Gamliel, Yuli Edelstein, Yechiel Chazan, Gilad Erdan, Michael Gorolovsky, and others. Yaakov Edry, on the other hand, said he supports the uprooting of isolated communities in Gaza and turning them into army bases.
MK Chazan, head of the Knesset's Yesha lobby, said he plans to propose legislation that will require a special majority of 80 MKs for any plan to uproot and dismantle Jewish communities.
The Yesha Council (Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) is planning a petition in which signatories commit to trying to bring down the government if the plan is implemented. In the meantime, the Council has expressed disappointment with the right-wing parties - the NRP and the National Union - for what it calls their "relative quiet" at the news of Sharon's intentions. The National Union's Tourism Minister Benny Elon said yesterday that his impression was that Sharon was not planning any such steps, at least not in the near future nor without consulting the government first. In any event, Elon said, "it is obvious that we will not sit in a government that uproots Jewish communities. In such a case, either we go, or Sharon goes."
Staffers of the Prime Minister's Bureau say that the "uprooting of Netzarim and the establishment of a Palestinian state are still far off." They ask the right-wing to judge Sharon "by his actions, not by his declarations."
Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon, asked if he would leave the Likud Party over the alleged plan, said, "Whoever submits such a plan [to uproot Jewish communities] should leave the Likud, not me." MK Inbal Gavrieli said, "I have lost confidence in the Likud Cabinet ministers... They are being dragged along by the 15 left-wingers of [Shinui]." Other Likud MKs who object to Sharon's plan are Gila Gamliel, Yuli Edelstein, Yechiel Chazan, Gilad Erdan, Michael Gorolovsky, and others. Yaakov Edry, on the other hand, said he supports the uprooting of isolated communities in Gaza and turning them into army bases.
MK Chazan, head of the Knesset's Yesha lobby, said he plans to propose legislation that will require a special majority of 80 MKs for any plan to uproot and dismantle Jewish communities.