"We will do everything we can to topple Sharon." So said yesterday a group of leading party activists - not from Labor, but rather from the Likud. The Central Committee members convened in a Tel Aviv hotel to discuss ways to thwart the plan to retreat from Gaza.
They are also against the prospect of having the Labor Party join the Likud in a national unity government. Hundreds of Central Committee members' signatures have been collected on a petition to this effect. At least half of the Likud's 40 MKs are said to be against the inclusion of Labor in the Likud-led government.
The operative decision of last night was to try to gather 61 MKs who will agree to vote in favor of a no-confidence motion in Sharon. To do this, however, the name of an MK to replace the current Prime Minister - one who will be supported by all 61 - must be found; this is no easy task in an opposition that comprises Labor, the National Union, Shas, Meretz, United Torah Judaism and the Arab parties.
Minister Uzi Landau of the Likud, who leads the internal party opposition to the Gaza separation plan, is working hard against the inclusion of the Labor Party in a national unity coalition government. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is also not in favor of including Labor, and said yesterday that Labor would have to accept his economic policies before joining the coalition. Foreign Minister Shalom and Education Minister Livnat are also not excited about including the left-wing party in the government. Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, however, who voted against the disengagement plan, said, "The job of the government is to rule effectively, and if it does not have a majority, it has to find one."
They are also against the prospect of having the Labor Party join the Likud in a national unity government. Hundreds of Central Committee members' signatures have been collected on a petition to this effect. At least half of the Likud's 40 MKs are said to be against the inclusion of Labor in the Likud-led government.
The operative decision of last night was to try to gather 61 MKs who will agree to vote in favor of a no-confidence motion in Sharon. To do this, however, the name of an MK to replace the current Prime Minister - one who will be supported by all 61 - must be found; this is no easy task in an opposition that comprises Labor, the National Union, Shas, Meretz, United Torah Judaism and the Arab parties.
Minister Uzi Landau of the Likud, who leads the internal party opposition to the Gaza separation plan, is working hard against the inclusion of the Labor Party in a national unity coalition government. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is also not in favor of including Labor, and said yesterday that Labor would have to accept his economic policies before joining the coalition. Foreign Minister Shalom and Education Minister Livnat are also not excited about including the left-wing party in the government. Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, however, who voted against the disengagement plan, said, "The job of the government is to rule effectively, and if it does not have a majority, it has to find one."