Prime Minister Sharon has so far stood fast against his advisors who recommend that he threaten outright to resign if he loses. Asked by his interviewers last night if he would resign in such a case, Mr. Sharon said, more than once, "I don't even want to think about such a possibility." However, he emphasized that if his plan is rejected, it would lead to a toppling of the government and the weakening of the Likud Party.
At an emergency meeting of Sharon advisors late this morning, it was decided to sharpen the tone even more strongly against those who object to the eviction/retreat.
Leaders of the anti-withdrawal plan dismiss the resignation hints as scare tactics. Minister Yisrael Katz of the Likud, who is considered to be close with Sharon despite his objections to the plan, said today that he has no doubt that the Prime Minister will continue in his job and will not resign.
In actuality, Sharon will not be able to resign even if he wants to. The relevant law, which has undergone some revisions over the past decade, now states that the Prime Minister cannot resign individually. Rather, "if he goes, the entire government goes," meaning that it becomes a transitional government, the Knesset Members remain in office, and the President must appoint another MK within seven days to form another government. Presumably, in such a case, that MK would be Binyamin Netanyahu, who enjoys the most support within the ruling and largest party, the Likud.
The Geneva Plan task force has made a last-minute decision not to publicize an announcement calling on Likud members to support the disengagement plan. It is felt that such an announcement by an extreme left-wing group would arouse objections within the Likud and would lead to even more "nay" votes against the withdrawal plan. Peace Now recently made a similar decision to freeze a campaign against Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), for fear that it would identify Prime Minister Sharon with the extreme left.
The house-to-house campaign by the pro-Land of Israel volunteers continues this week, with thousands of people visiting tens of thousands of Likud members' homes throughout the country. One young woman, in response to a visit by anti-retreat volunteers in her home, said, "You don't have to convince me; I'm already against." The volunteers asked her what was the main reason she opposes the plan, and she said simply, "It won't work. It won't stop terrorism, so why give up all those houses and families?"
Arutz-7 has posted two short movies about Gush Katif: One in English, and a different one in Hebrew.
At an emergency meeting of Sharon advisors late this morning, it was decided to sharpen the tone even more strongly against those who object to the eviction/retreat.
Leaders of the anti-withdrawal plan dismiss the resignation hints as scare tactics. Minister Yisrael Katz of the Likud, who is considered to be close with Sharon despite his objections to the plan, said today that he has no doubt that the Prime Minister will continue in his job and will not resign.
In actuality, Sharon will not be able to resign even if he wants to. The relevant law, which has undergone some revisions over the past decade, now states that the Prime Minister cannot resign individually. Rather, "if he goes, the entire government goes," meaning that it becomes a transitional government, the Knesset Members remain in office, and the President must appoint another MK within seven days to form another government. Presumably, in such a case, that MK would be Binyamin Netanyahu, who enjoys the most support within the ruling and largest party, the Likud.
The Geneva Plan task force has made a last-minute decision not to publicize an announcement calling on Likud members to support the disengagement plan. It is felt that such an announcement by an extreme left-wing group would arouse objections within the Likud and would lead to even more "nay" votes against the withdrawal plan. Peace Now recently made a similar decision to freeze a campaign against Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), for fear that it would identify Prime Minister Sharon with the extreme left.
The house-to-house campaign by the pro-Land of Israel volunteers continues this week, with thousands of people visiting tens of thousands of Likud members' homes throughout the country. One young woman, in response to a visit by anti-retreat volunteers in her home, said, "You don't have to convince me; I'm already against." The volunteers asked her what was the main reason she opposes the plan, and she said simply, "It won't work. It won't stop terrorism, so why give up all those houses and families?"
Arutz-7 has posted two short movies about Gush Katif: One in English, and a different one in Hebrew.