While he emerged with a majority in support of his address to the Knesset yesterday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was made to understand that his disengagement plan does not enjoy widespread Knesset support - even among coalition members.
The Prime Minister addressed a special Knesset session dealing with the unilateral withdrawal plan - that which he proposed two months ago but, as of yet, has detailed neither for the Knesset nor for the government. The radical left-wing Meretz opposition party succeeded in obtaining 40 MKs' signatures, thus mandating Sharon's address on the plan. The Prime Minister spoke of the withdrawal only in vague generalities, however, and provided no details. "I am not among those who say that we should maintain the status quo," he said. "We need a change."
"Israel was willing to extend a hand to its Palestinian neighbors," the Prime Minister said, "and act together with them to implement the Road Map in all its stages. Unfortunately, to date, I cannot say that we have encountered the same willingness on the [other] side... Soon it will become clear to the world that Israel has no genuine partner for peace on the Palestinian side. Therefore, also in the political arena, Israel will have to act according to its own discretion... It is clear to me that within the political vacuum that will be created if the Road Map collapses, if Israel does not succeed in presenting its own alternative, dozens of political initiatives will be drawn up from all over the world. Today, we are already forced to repel such initiatives, which all share the idea that Israel must reach an agreement while terror is still going on. In other words, Israel will have to make far-reaching concessions while legitimacy is given to terror. This is, of course, something we cannot accept."
In the vote, the Knesset approved the speech by a narrow 46-45 margin. Though Sharon presented the vote as a confidence motion in his government, coalition MKs of the National Union and National Religious Parties absented themselves, making clear their opposition to the Prime Minister's current diplomatic policies. See article #3 below for views objecting to the withdrawal plan.
The Prime Minister addressed a special Knesset session dealing with the unilateral withdrawal plan - that which he proposed two months ago but, as of yet, has detailed neither for the Knesset nor for the government. The radical left-wing Meretz opposition party succeeded in obtaining 40 MKs' signatures, thus mandating Sharon's address on the plan. The Prime Minister spoke of the withdrawal only in vague generalities, however, and provided no details. "I am not among those who say that we should maintain the status quo," he said. "We need a change."
"Israel was willing to extend a hand to its Palestinian neighbors," the Prime Minister said, "and act together with them to implement the Road Map in all its stages. Unfortunately, to date, I cannot say that we have encountered the same willingness on the [other] side... Soon it will become clear to the world that Israel has no genuine partner for peace on the Palestinian side. Therefore, also in the political arena, Israel will have to act according to its own discretion... It is clear to me that within the political vacuum that will be created if the Road Map collapses, if Israel does not succeed in presenting its own alternative, dozens of political initiatives will be drawn up from all over the world. Today, we are already forced to repel such initiatives, which all share the idea that Israel must reach an agreement while terror is still going on. In other words, Israel will have to make far-reaching concessions while legitimacy is given to terror. This is, of course, something we cannot accept."
In the vote, the Knesset approved the speech by a narrow 46-45 margin. Though Sharon presented the vote as a confidence motion in his government, coalition MKs of the National Union and National Religious Parties absented themselves, making clear their opposition to the Prime Minister's current diplomatic policies. See article #3 below for views objecting to the withdrawal plan.