Today's Cabinet meeting featured a sharp and rancorous exchange between Prime Minister Sharon and Vice Prime Minister Olmert, on the one hand, and disengagement opponents Ministers Effie Eitam and Benny Elon, on the other. National Religious Party leader Eitam said that Sharon's behavior is unacceptable in that he is promoting internationally a withdrawal plan that has not been approved by, or even presented to, the Government. Sharon accused Eitam of strongly criticizing him abroad, and "if you don't like it in the government, you can quit." Olmert seconded this point. Eitam said that the right-wing parties will not quit but will rather fight the disengagement plan from within the government. "I will continue to talk against this plan throughout the world because it is dangerous for Israel," he said. Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union), who has criticized the withdrawal plan even more often than Eitam in his visits to the US and elsewhere, said, "You will not shut us up."
Likud Party opponents of the withdrawal-from-Gaza plan will convene today for a second meeting in the office of Minister Natan Sharansky. They will continue to plan strategy for the upcoming vote among 200,000 Likud members "for" or "against" the plan. They will cite the many military officers who have claimed that the plan is dangerous for Israel and will lead to increased terrorism, and will organize residents of Gush Katif to visit the Likud members and explain to them in person the negative ramifications of expelling Jews from their homes. On the other side, pro-withdrawal forces led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will say that rejecting the plan will lead to unwanted complications with the international community and the imposition of even worse diplomatic solutions.
Among the anti-withdrawal Likud MKs meeting today are Naomi Blumental, Gilad Erdan, Ehud Yatom, Ayoub Kara, and Yechiel Chazan.
Likud Party opponents of the withdrawal-from-Gaza plan will convene today for a second meeting in the office of Minister Natan Sharansky. They will continue to plan strategy for the upcoming vote among 200,000 Likud members "for" or "against" the plan. They will cite the many military officers who have claimed that the plan is dangerous for Israel and will lead to increased terrorism, and will organize residents of Gush Katif to visit the Likud members and explain to them in person the negative ramifications of expelling Jews from their homes. On the other side, pro-withdrawal forces led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will say that rejecting the plan will lead to unwanted complications with the international community and the imposition of even worse diplomatic solutions.
Among the anti-withdrawal Likud MKs meeting today are Naomi Blumental, Gilad Erdan, Ehud Yatom, Ayoub Kara, and Yechiel Chazan.