Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is determined to bring his plan for a Cabinet vote, despite the fact that at present he has no majority - but is willing to wait a few more days. "I am determined to pass this plan," he said at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting this morning, "even if I have to change the composition of the government or employ other far-reaching political maneuvers. This is my obligation towards the public and the Likud membership... I ask you to rise above your personal considerations and national responsibility... This is not a dispute between me and some of you, but between us and the United States."
The meeting ended after seven hours, with half the ministers having spoken. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid proposed a compromise that he feels will bridge the differences between the positions of Sharon and Netanyahu; the latter said he would seriously consider it.
In a clear reference to Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who leads the camp of opponents to the full withdrawal, Sharon said, "I would like to warn those of us who wish to take advantage of this crisis to advance their own personal agendas."
Sharon also admitted that he "may have erred by holding the referendum. I place the blame for this move on myself."
Netanyahu later reminded the Cabinet ministers that Sharon had promised to abide by the results of the Likud referendum, and "not to throw them in the garbage pail in the event that he did not like them." Some influential Likud Central Committee members are once again circulating a letter written to them by Netanyahu on June 2, 2003, in which he emphasizes his unambiguous opposition to the "dismantling of Yesha communities" or the implementation of any part of the Road Map while Palestinian terrorism continues.
The diplomatic issues have taken a back seat to the perceived competition between Sharon and Netanyahu, although many commentators do not attribute overly political motives to the latter. They say that he has been consistent all along in objecting to any plan that is similar to the one rejected by the Likud membership four weeks ago. Netanyahu said he would agree to the removal/destruction of three towns in Gush Katif, but not to any plan mentioning a full withdrawal from 22 other towns in Gaza and northern Shomron. Sharon then offered a compromise proposal mentioning the rest of the plan in a "semi-operative" manner, but Netanyahu said this was opposed to the Likud membership's will as expressed in the referendum. Sharon then called off the "talks" with Netanyahu, and said he would present the full plan - the destruction of all 25 towns, in four stages - to the Cabinet.
Sharon did make one concession to the political reality by saying that the discussion would begin today, and that the vote would take place at a later date - such that his plan will not be defeated today.
Prior to the ministers being given a chance to speak, security and defense leaders presented their opinions on the plan. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, who said in the past that a unilateral withdrawal would provide an incentive for further terrorism, said today implementing the plan in stages is more dangerous than a one-time execution. IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Farkash said that in the bottom line, the plan represents more of a possible opportunity ("sikuy", in Hebrew) than a danger ("sikun"). GSS Head Avi Dichter said that though Hamas will not take over in Gaza after a withdrawal, there would be more terrorist-launched rocket attacks on towns outside Gaza.
Hundreds of Likud Central Committee members and other nationalist camp supporters held a large anti-withdrawal rally outside the Prime Minister's Office this morning.
The meeting ended after seven hours, with half the ministers having spoken. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid proposed a compromise that he feels will bridge the differences between the positions of Sharon and Netanyahu; the latter said he would seriously consider it.
In a clear reference to Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who leads the camp of opponents to the full withdrawal, Sharon said, "I would like to warn those of us who wish to take advantage of this crisis to advance their own personal agendas."
Sharon also admitted that he "may have erred by holding the referendum. I place the blame for this move on myself."
Netanyahu later reminded the Cabinet ministers that Sharon had promised to abide by the results of the Likud referendum, and "not to throw them in the garbage pail in the event that he did not like them." Some influential Likud Central Committee members are once again circulating a letter written to them by Netanyahu on June 2, 2003, in which he emphasizes his unambiguous opposition to the "dismantling of Yesha communities" or the implementation of any part of the Road Map while Palestinian terrorism continues.
The diplomatic issues have taken a back seat to the perceived competition between Sharon and Netanyahu, although many commentators do not attribute overly political motives to the latter. They say that he has been consistent all along in objecting to any plan that is similar to the one rejected by the Likud membership four weeks ago. Netanyahu said he would agree to the removal/destruction of three towns in Gush Katif, but not to any plan mentioning a full withdrawal from 22 other towns in Gaza and northern Shomron. Sharon then offered a compromise proposal mentioning the rest of the plan in a "semi-operative" manner, but Netanyahu said this was opposed to the Likud membership's will as expressed in the referendum. Sharon then called off the "talks" with Netanyahu, and said he would present the full plan - the destruction of all 25 towns, in four stages - to the Cabinet.
Sharon did make one concession to the political reality by saying that the discussion would begin today, and that the vote would take place at a later date - such that his plan will not be defeated today.
Prior to the ministers being given a chance to speak, security and defense leaders presented their opinions on the plan. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, who said in the past that a unilateral withdrawal would provide an incentive for further terrorism, said today implementing the plan in stages is more dangerous than a one-time execution. IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Farkash said that in the bottom line, the plan represents more of a possible opportunity ("sikuy", in Hebrew) than a danger ("sikun"). GSS Head Avi Dichter said that though Hamas will not take over in Gaza after a withdrawal, there would be more terrorist-launched rocket attacks on towns outside Gaza.
Hundreds of Likud Central Committee members and other nationalist camp supporters held a large anti-withdrawal rally outside the Prime Minister's Office this morning.