Former MK Chanan Porat also spoke out today on the burning topic of a possible abandonment of Jewish Gaza and its nearly 8,000 Jewish residents. The former head of the Tekumah faction of the National Union party said, "It's obvious that diplomatically speaking, this is a move without any logical basis whatsoever. But it's beyond just a diplomatic issue. Uprooting Jewish settlements from their land is simply a national, ethical and Jewish crime, and whoever does this will not be forgiven... Ariel Sharon already has a record in this matter [in uprooting and destroying Yamit and the Sinai communities in 1982]; he has said that he regrets doing this, but now he is literally like someone who says, 'I will sin and repent, sin and repent.' His only choice is to totally withdraw this idea, or to give up his seat."
"So, how do we stop the bulldozers?" Porat was asked, and responded,
"First of all, via the government, in which there is a clear majority against the idea... I have suggested, in our Knesset faction, that we draft a letter to Sharon; it's already being worked on, and I hope it will be completed and sent today. The letter will say that uprooting Jewish communities is in total opposition to our Jewish and Zionist outlook - which posits that we must work to build towns, not tear them down; that we must base our security on national strength and the army, with G-d's help, and not on panicky retreats. We therefore demand that he bring his plan immediately to the Cabinet, and that if it in fact passes, we will resign immediately, and will fight against it with all the parliamentary tools at our disposal. But if it does not pass, he will have to bury it and stop trying to run it by the public. Furthermore, if he does not bring it for a vote, we will not see ourselves as bound in any way by coalition discipline..."
What is happening, Porat said, is "contrary to every democratic procedure. Sharon is acting as if he is the entire government. He cannot present a plan that has not been approved by the government. He cannot demand from us to behave with loyalty to the government when he himself ignores it."
But, Porat continued, "I have no doubt that the bottom line is how the public responds. I'm not just referring to the extent of the opposition, but chiefly to its intensity. I call upon everyone who [supports us] that, at the first sign of the uprooting of even a small outpost community, thousands and myriads of people must be there - and not just youth, but also public figures, rabbis, teachers, etc. - an entire public who will say, 'No More! Arik Sharon, you will not destroy our country!'"
"So, how do we stop the bulldozers?" Porat was asked, and responded,
"First of all, via the government, in which there is a clear majority against the idea... I have suggested, in our Knesset faction, that we draft a letter to Sharon; it's already being worked on, and I hope it will be completed and sent today. The letter will say that uprooting Jewish communities is in total opposition to our Jewish and Zionist outlook - which posits that we must work to build towns, not tear them down; that we must base our security on national strength and the army, with G-d's help, and not on panicky retreats. We therefore demand that he bring his plan immediately to the Cabinet, and that if it in fact passes, we will resign immediately, and will fight against it with all the parliamentary tools at our disposal. But if it does not pass, he will have to bury it and stop trying to run it by the public. Furthermore, if he does not bring it for a vote, we will not see ourselves as bound in any way by coalition discipline..."
What is happening, Porat said, is "contrary to every democratic procedure. Sharon is acting as if he is the entire government. He cannot present a plan that has not been approved by the government. He cannot demand from us to behave with loyalty to the government when he himself ignores it."
But, Porat continued, "I have no doubt that the bottom line is how the public responds. I'm not just referring to the extent of the opposition, but chiefly to its intensity. I call upon everyone who [supports us] that, at the first sign of the uprooting of even a small outpost community, thousands and myriads of people must be there - and not just youth, but also public figures, rabbis, teachers, etc. - an entire public who will say, 'No More! Arik Sharon, you will not destroy our country!'"