During the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday morning, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed his dissatisfaction with government ministers "running to the microphones" to talk about the path the security fence will take. He made the comments at the start of the cabinet discussion of Israel’s position on the fence before the International Court at the Hague.
PM Sharon reminded the ministers that he has several times asked that the issue of the fence be discussed only in closed government forums. The publicity of internal differences of opinion, Sharon said, "causes untold damage to Israel." Constant publicity, he said, prevents serious debate in the government and forces Israel into unnecessary confrontations. "People see microphones and run to talk," Sharon said angrily, "Everyone wants changes - one wants small changes and one wants a fence along the ‘67 lines."
The prime minister told the cabinet that the issue of the security fence’s path will be discussed in the mini-cabinet consisting of himself, Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Industry & Trade Minister Ehud Olmert.
It was Shinui party leader Minister of Justice Tommy Lapid who most recently publicly called for a change in the route of the counter-terrorism partition fence, bringing it in line with Israel’s pre-1967 armistice lines. Lapid warned that proceeding with the current route will leave Israel isolated and bring world condemnation.
Similarly, acting Attorney General Edna Arbel reportedly told Prime Minister Sharon last week that it would be difficult for the State Attorney’s Office to defend the fence’s planned route before the International Court at the Hague.
PM Sharon reminded the ministers that he has several times asked that the issue of the fence be discussed only in closed government forums. The publicity of internal differences of opinion, Sharon said, "causes untold damage to Israel." Constant publicity, he said, prevents serious debate in the government and forces Israel into unnecessary confrontations. "People see microphones and run to talk," Sharon said angrily, "Everyone wants changes - one wants small changes and one wants a fence along the ‘67 lines."
The prime minister told the cabinet that the issue of the security fence’s path will be discussed in the mini-cabinet consisting of himself, Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Industry & Trade Minister Ehud Olmert.
It was Shinui party leader Minister of Justice Tommy Lapid who most recently publicly called for a change in the route of the counter-terrorism partition fence, bringing it in line with Israel’s pre-1967 armistice lines. Lapid warned that proceeding with the current route will leave Israel isolated and bring world condemnation.
Similarly, acting Attorney General Edna Arbel reportedly told Prime Minister Sharon last week that it would be difficult for the State Attorney’s Office to defend the fence’s planned route before the International Court at the Hague.