In the wake of the murderous terrorist attack in Ashdod yesterday, the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha Council) has expressed a sharp protest against the Likud Party ministers still straddling the fence regarding Sharon's unilateral withdrawal plan. "Every child in N'vei Dekalim has already learned the plan by heart and has formed an opinion," reads the statement, "while the ministers seem to have learning difficulties... It's all in the newspapers: Sharon has decided to retreat under fire from Gaza, plans to uproot dozens of communities in Yesha and expel thousands of residents from their homes - all with nothing at all in return."
The Council calls upon the Likud ministers to come out openly against the plan: "The Chief of Staff and the head of the GSS have found ways to show their opposition to the plan... The only way to get Sharon to give up this idea is if everything is stated openly - which will prevent an acute governmental crisis and a bitter split within the Likud. The time has come to end the 'silence of the sheep.' Don't let Weisglass continue dragging Sharon into the abyss. For G-d's sake, say something!"
The ministers in question - some of whom have expressed guarded opposition to the plan - include: Ezra, Livnat, Livni, Katz, Naveh, Netanyahu, Shalom, and Sheetrit. Sharon, Mofaz, and Olmert are outspokenly in favor of the withdrawal/expulsion. The phone and fax numbers of all MKs appear at "http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/telephones_eng.asp".
Other reactions:
Minister Uzi Landau (Likud): "The more talk we hear of a unilateral retreat and other Israeli concessions, the more the terrorists are motivated to respond with larger attacks. We must respond with strength against terrorism. During wartime, there must be no talk of evacuation and retreat. Only after a victory can there be talk of possible compromise."
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said that the brazenness of the terrorists in planning to attack such a strategic target as the Ashdod port "is a result of the tailwind the withdrawal plan has given to the sails of terrorism. Talk of withdrawal must be stopped, and the all-out war against terrorism must be enhanced."
Tourism Minister Benny Elon said that the Ashdod attack "proves that talk of uprooting communities encourages terrorism. Whoever thinks that he can run away from Gaza, will be pursued by Gaza into the heart of Israel. The Government of Israel must keep its promise to the public to uproot terrorism in Gaza and everywhere else."
The extreme left-wing Peace Now organization feels differently: "There are no magical solutions to terrorism. The only way to get out of the mud is by a diplomatic arrangement... and uprooting the settlements, and using the armed forces that are freed up to protect Israel's new borders."
The Council calls upon the Likud ministers to come out openly against the plan: "The Chief of Staff and the head of the GSS have found ways to show their opposition to the plan... The only way to get Sharon to give up this idea is if everything is stated openly - which will prevent an acute governmental crisis and a bitter split within the Likud. The time has come to end the 'silence of the sheep.' Don't let Weisglass continue dragging Sharon into the abyss. For G-d's sake, say something!"
The ministers in question - some of whom have expressed guarded opposition to the plan - include: Ezra, Livnat, Livni, Katz, Naveh, Netanyahu, Shalom, and Sheetrit. Sharon, Mofaz, and Olmert are outspokenly in favor of the withdrawal/expulsion. The phone and fax numbers of all MKs appear at "http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/telephones_eng.asp".
Other reactions:
Minister Uzi Landau (Likud): "The more talk we hear of a unilateral retreat and other Israeli concessions, the more the terrorists are motivated to respond with larger attacks. We must respond with strength against terrorism. During wartime, there must be no talk of evacuation and retreat. Only after a victory can there be talk of possible compromise."
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said that the brazenness of the terrorists in planning to attack such a strategic target as the Ashdod port "is a result of the tailwind the withdrawal plan has given to the sails of terrorism. Talk of withdrawal must be stopped, and the all-out war against terrorism must be enhanced."
Tourism Minister Benny Elon said that the Ashdod attack "proves that talk of uprooting communities encourages terrorism. Whoever thinks that he can run away from Gaza, will be pursued by Gaza into the heart of Israel. The Government of Israel must keep its promise to the public to uproot terrorism in Gaza and everywhere else."
The extreme left-wing Peace Now organization feels differently: "There are no magical solutions to terrorism. The only way to get out of the mud is by a diplomatic arrangement... and uprooting the settlements, and using the armed forces that are freed up to protect Israel's new borders."