The liquidation of the arch-murderer apparently saved Prime Minister Sharon from a defeat in yesterday's no-confidence motion. Several of the Likud MKs who had considered absenting themselves from the vote instead voted with the government, while others from the NU and NRP who were planning to vote against abstained instead.
The Shas Party faction in the Knesset accepted a request from Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz to withdraw its no-confidence motion, but the Labor Party refused to withdraw its motion. "Today's motion wraps up the winter session of the Knesset," said MK Dalia Itzik today at the Labor Party Knesset faction session, "and ends one of the worst years in the history of Israeli governments. And therefore, this morning's action changes nothing; on the contrary, some say it makes it even worse. In short, it's business as usual."
Other responses to the killing of Yassin:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: "Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was among the greatest of the Jewish People's enemies."
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz: "Yassin was the Palestinian Bin-Laden... The war against Hamas will continue."
Trade Minister Ehud Olmert: "Every one of the Hamas leaders who are still alive knows that his days are numbered."
Some Labor MKs, such as Danny Yatom and Eitan Cabel, justified the killing of Yassin. Shimon Peres, on the other hand, said that if he were in the government, he would have voted against the strike: "One leader is killed, another one replaces him." Within Shinui, as well, the opinions are divided. Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said that the Shinui ministers such as Poraz and Paritzky who express reservations about the killing "are serving the interests of Palestinian propaganda."
The Yesha Council says that the government "must not stop now, but must continue with the killing of the remainder of the terrorist leadership, including Arafat."
Meretz MK Zahava Gal'on: "Sharon, who incited the Temple Mount protests [though PA sources themselves said that the violence at the time had been planned well in advance - ed. note], has now poured more fuel on the cycle of murderous violence."
Arafat declared three days of mourning for Yassin, whom he called a "tortured holy martyr." A black cloud covered Gaza cities, as residents burned tires in memory of the slain murderer.
The Shas Party faction in the Knesset accepted a request from Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz to withdraw its no-confidence motion, but the Labor Party refused to withdraw its motion. "Today's motion wraps up the winter session of the Knesset," said MK Dalia Itzik today at the Labor Party Knesset faction session, "and ends one of the worst years in the history of Israeli governments. And therefore, this morning's action changes nothing; on the contrary, some say it makes it even worse. In short, it's business as usual."
Other responses to the killing of Yassin:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: "Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was among the greatest of the Jewish People's enemies."
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz: "Yassin was the Palestinian Bin-Laden... The war against Hamas will continue."
Trade Minister Ehud Olmert: "Every one of the Hamas leaders who are still alive knows that his days are numbered."
Some Labor MKs, such as Danny Yatom and Eitan Cabel, justified the killing of Yassin. Shimon Peres, on the other hand, said that if he were in the government, he would have voted against the strike: "One leader is killed, another one replaces him." Within Shinui, as well, the opinions are divided. Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said that the Shinui ministers such as Poraz and Paritzky who express reservations about the killing "are serving the interests of Palestinian propaganda."
The Yesha Council says that the government "must not stop now, but must continue with the killing of the remainder of the terrorist leadership, including Arafat."
Meretz MK Zahava Gal'on: "Sharon, who incited the Temple Mount protests [though PA sources themselves said that the violence at the time had been planned well in advance - ed. note], has now poured more fuel on the cycle of murderous violence."
Arafat declared three days of mourning for Yassin, whom he called a "tortured holy martyr." A black cloud covered Gaza cities, as residents burned tires in memory of the slain murderer.