The Likud Party Court will hold a session on Thursday afternoon, to which it has invited all the MKs and ministers. The issue at hand: a petition demanding that all Likud MKs be required to vote in the Knesset and the Cabinet in accordance with the recent Likud referendum - i.e., against a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and the northern Shomron.
The session is being held only three days before Prime Minister Sharon plans to present his "new" disengagement plan. The plan is very similar to the one that was rejected in the Likud's referendum three weeks ago; according to current reports, both call for a unilateral withdrawal from 25 Jewish communities in Gaza and the northern Shomron, though with different timetables. It is generally understood that Sharon is thus proceeding against the party will as expressed in the referendum.
It is not yet clear whether Sharon will have a majority in the Cabinet to pass his plan or not. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has recently expressed support for only a limited, three-community withdrawal. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met yesterday with the Prime Minister, and has not yet decided where he stands - apparently because Sharon himself did not tell him the exact parameters of his proposal. Education Minister Limor Livnat, as well, is said to be not likely to support a plan that is very similar to the one that was just rejected.
The National Union party announced that it will resign from the coalition if a decision is made on Sunday to evict the residents of even one Jewish community. The National Religious Party, on the other hand, is still deliberating the issue; party leader Housing Minister Effie Eitam and Deputy Minister Yitzchak Levy are in favor of quitting, while Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev advises not to rush out.
The session is being held only three days before Prime Minister Sharon plans to present his "new" disengagement plan. The plan is very similar to the one that was rejected in the Likud's referendum three weeks ago; according to current reports, both call for a unilateral withdrawal from 25 Jewish communities in Gaza and the northern Shomron, though with different timetables. It is generally understood that Sharon is thus proceeding against the party will as expressed in the referendum.
It is not yet clear whether Sharon will have a majority in the Cabinet to pass his plan or not. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has recently expressed support for only a limited, three-community withdrawal. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met yesterday with the Prime Minister, and has not yet decided where he stands - apparently because Sharon himself did not tell him the exact parameters of his proposal. Education Minister Limor Livnat, as well, is said to be not likely to support a plan that is very similar to the one that was just rejected.
The National Union party announced that it will resign from the coalition if a decision is made on Sunday to evict the residents of even one Jewish community. The National Religious Party, on the other hand, is still deliberating the issue; party leader Housing Minister Effie Eitam and Deputy Minister Yitzchak Levy are in favor of quitting, while Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev advises not to rush out.