\"Prime Minister Sharon was always known for his wonderful sense of humor.\" So said this morning Labor Party Secretary-General Raanan Cohen, referring to Sharon\'s offer last night for Labor to run together with Likud on one ticket in the next Knesset elections. Both Labor and Likud members were not happy with the idea. Likud Knesset faction head Ze\'ev Boim and MK Moshe Arens said today that the ideological gap between the two parties is unbridgeable. National Religious Party head Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said, \"Sharon had better choose very quickly whether he is headed left or right.\"
The Labor Party\'s Central Committee convened today for a political debate, and for the presentation of the two candidates for party head and Prime Minister: Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg. The aforementioned MK Cohen would not commit himself as to whether the word \"Oslo\" would appear on the next Labor Party platform, but said that the word \"peace\" certainly would appear.
MK Prof. Moshe Arens (Likud) has been visiting Yesha towns over the past few weeks, attempting to gather support for the Likud among the residents of Judea and Samaria. He said that he tells them that if they wish to have an influence on the future of the party and the country, they should register for the Likud. Asked if he was trying to have the Likud \"swing back to the right,\" Arens answered, \"It\'s no secret that I\'m quite against this policy of restraint and unilateral ceasefire, which I think does not provide the necessary security to Israel\'s citizens in Yesha.\"
Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi said last night that his National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu is \"suspending\" its membership in the Cabinet, in protest over the government\'s policy of restraint. In particular, Ze\'evi said he was irked by Foreign Minister Peres\' recent meeting with Yasser Arafat. Ze\'evi and his party colleague Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman will remain in the national unity government, but plan to boycott its meetings.
The Labor Party\'s Central Committee convened today for a political debate, and for the presentation of the two candidates for party head and Prime Minister: Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg. The aforementioned MK Cohen would not commit himself as to whether the word \"Oslo\" would appear on the next Labor Party platform, but said that the word \"peace\" certainly would appear.
MK Prof. Moshe Arens (Likud) has been visiting Yesha towns over the past few weeks, attempting to gather support for the Likud among the residents of Judea and Samaria. He said that he tells them that if they wish to have an influence on the future of the party and the country, they should register for the Likud. Asked if he was trying to have the Likud \"swing back to the right,\" Arens answered, \"It\'s no secret that I\'m quite against this policy of restraint and unilateral ceasefire, which I think does not provide the necessary security to Israel\'s citizens in Yesha.\"
Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi said last night that his National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu is \"suspending\" its membership in the Cabinet, in protest over the government\'s policy of restraint. In particular, Ze\'evi said he was irked by Foreign Minister Peres\' recent meeting with Yasser Arafat. Ze\'evi and his party colleague Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman will remain in the national unity government, but plan to boycott its meetings.