Among leading Likud members who are outspokenly against the unilateral evacuation/expulsion plan are Ministers Uzi Landau, Tzachi HaNegbi and Yisrael Katz; former Defense Minister Moshe Arens; former Foreign Minister David Levy; and several MKs. Arens announced today that he is officially joining the efforts to persuade party members to oppose the plan in the upcoming party referendum.



Coalition whip MK Gideon Sa'ar (Likud), another leading opponent of the plan, met this morning with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, spiritual head of the Shas Party. MK Sa'ar went to Rabbi Yosef's home to explain his objections to the unilateral withdrawal plan. Rabbi Yosef agreed with him, and added that the plan is currently understood as a unilateral concession, and leaves a dangerous opening for the future. Shas Party leader MK Eli Yeshai, who was also at the meeting, said, "What should be our top concern is the way in which Israel will be perceived, and Israel's standing, in the wake of the withdrawal. Party politics are irrelevant at this time."