Latest polls now show that the anti-withdrawal forces in the Likud have a clear lead over the pro-disengagement camp. A Yediot Acharonot poll shows that 47% of the Likud members will vote against, while only 39% will vote in favor. Maariv shows a smaller gap: 45% against, 42% in favor.
A third poll, carried out by Dr. Yitzchak Katz of the Brain Base institute, finds that the objectors, who were trailing a week ago by 12%, now lead by a 47%-43% margin. Commentator Crystal said: "A dramatic turnaround of 16% in one week - I can't remember such a thing since Begin and the nuclear reactor." Fewer voters than last week said they plan to vote - 63%, as compared to 68%, and a higher proportion among those who object: Last week, of those who planned to vote, 41% opposed the evacuation, while today it is up to 51%, with 6% undecided. Most people - 58% - think that Sharon need not resign if his plan is rejected by the Likud membership on Sunday.
The findings, confirming and strengthening a trend of the past few days, have increased Prime Minister Sharon's feeling of near panic, and he responded yesterday evening in kind.
In rare interviews with the media last night - apparently the result of the latest polls - the Prime Minister threatened that turning down his plan would lead to the toppling of the government. He repeatedly called those who oppose the unilateral retreat "the extreme right-wing," and said, "Whoever is for me, must vote in favor of this plan" - although he stopped short of saying it was a vote of confidence in him or that he would resign if he lost. Sharon said that a rejection of the expulsion plan would impair our relations with the U.S. and would be a victory for Arafat and Hamas.
The Prime Minister was asked how a unilateral retreat under fire could be considered a defeat for terrorism. His response: " We see that they are against it from the way they are protesting it so strongly. This will be the biggest blow they have ever suffered since the War of Independence. They say this outright!" This flies in the face of personal testimony by MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), who said that Arab MKs in the Knesset have told him that they are very happy with the plan to uproot Jews from their homes and abandon the communities.
In addition, Minister Uzi Landau said that Hamas spokesmen are already bragging that their terrorism has thrown Israel out of Gaza, and that the same methods will get Israel to leave Judea and Samaria.
The Sharon camp, according to all reports, is in trouble. Voice of Israel commentator Chanan Crystal says that it is suffering from a lack of organization, while Yoav Yitzchak writes that the "darkest visions of publicist Reuven Adler are coming true. Adler, a close friend and advisor of Sharon and the man who is most closely identified with his media successes, warned Sharon in advance that with all the admiration and love for him in the Likud, they are liable to vote against him" and that he should therefore not hold the referendum. Crystal said that Sharon began losing points when he pushed Ministers Netanyahu, Livnat and Shalom against the wall and coerced them into accepting his plan. Sharon himself was quick to protest this impression this morning, saying, "There was no pressure. There was no pressure at all." However, Crystal noted that most of the close advisors to all three ministers are actively working against the evacuation plan.
A third poll, carried out by Dr. Yitzchak Katz of the Brain Base institute, finds that the objectors, who were trailing a week ago by 12%, now lead by a 47%-43% margin. Commentator Crystal said: "A dramatic turnaround of 16% in one week - I can't remember such a thing since Begin and the nuclear reactor." Fewer voters than last week said they plan to vote - 63%, as compared to 68%, and a higher proportion among those who object: Last week, of those who planned to vote, 41% opposed the evacuation, while today it is up to 51%, with 6% undecided. Most people - 58% - think that Sharon need not resign if his plan is rejected by the Likud membership on Sunday.
The findings, confirming and strengthening a trend of the past few days, have increased Prime Minister Sharon's feeling of near panic, and he responded yesterday evening in kind.
In rare interviews with the media last night - apparently the result of the latest polls - the Prime Minister threatened that turning down his plan would lead to the toppling of the government. He repeatedly called those who oppose the unilateral retreat "the extreme right-wing," and said, "Whoever is for me, must vote in favor of this plan" - although he stopped short of saying it was a vote of confidence in him or that he would resign if he lost. Sharon said that a rejection of the expulsion plan would impair our relations with the U.S. and would be a victory for Arafat and Hamas.
The Prime Minister was asked how a unilateral retreat under fire could be considered a defeat for terrorism. His response: " We see that they are against it from the way they are protesting it so strongly. This will be the biggest blow they have ever suffered since the War of Independence. They say this outright!" This flies in the face of personal testimony by MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), who said that Arab MKs in the Knesset have told him that they are very happy with the plan to uproot Jews from their homes and abandon the communities.
In addition, Minister Uzi Landau said that Hamas spokesmen are already bragging that their terrorism has thrown Israel out of Gaza, and that the same methods will get Israel to leave Judea and Samaria.
The Sharon camp, according to all reports, is in trouble. Voice of Israel commentator Chanan Crystal says that it is suffering from a lack of organization, while Yoav Yitzchak writes that the "darkest visions of publicist Reuven Adler are coming true. Adler, a close friend and advisor of Sharon and the man who is most closely identified with his media successes, warned Sharon in advance that with all the admiration and love for him in the Likud, they are liable to vote against him" and that he should therefore not hold the referendum. Crystal said that Sharon began losing points when he pushed Ministers Netanyahu, Livnat and Shalom against the wall and coerced them into accepting his plan. Sharon himself was quick to protest this impression this morning, saying, "There was no pressure. There was no pressure at all." However, Crystal noted that most of the close advisors to all three ministers are actively working against the evacuation plan.