Party chairman Effi Eitam and MKs Yitzhak Levy and Nissan Slomiansky voted against the government, while Minister Zevulun Orlev and MKs Shaul Yahalom and Gila Finkelstein - refrained from voting altogether.
At a faction meeting of the six MKs this afternoon, party leader Effie Eitam and Minister Zevulun Orlev were notably more cordial towards each other than they were last week, when it appeared that the party was headed for a split. Eitam resigned his ministerial position last Monday after the Cabinet approved, in principle, the disengagement plan - while Orlev said that Eitam must not make such a decision without approval from the party's Central Committee.
Orlev and MK Yahalom are of the opinion that the party must continue to work against the retreat from Gaza "from within the government," and should not hasten the entry of Labor into the government by resigning. Eitam and MK Yitzchak Levy, however, feel that the withdrawal ball has already begun rolling and there is no stopping it from within, and that Prime Minister Sharon will replace the NRP with Labor at his own convenience. MKs Slomiansky and Finkelstein are leaning towards quitting the government, but do not wish to cause a split in the party.
Effie Eitam said before the meeting today that the party is united in its position that the disengagement must be stopped, "but we are divided as to how this may best be done. We will do everything in our power to ensure that there is no split in the party." The decision today was that over the next few months, MKs will be given the freedom to vote as they wish on diplomatic issues. In another few months, "We will judge the situation and see whose efforts to stop the withdrawal have been more effective - those who are working as a diplomatic opposition, or those within the government."
The meeting today was disrupted when a group of Gush Katif residents burst in, demanding that the party quit the coalition and work with full force to topple the government that is resolved to expel them from their homes. MK Nissan Slomiansky, who has been serving as party peacemaker during the current crisis, was specifically targeted with sharp criticism for not taking a strong stand in favor of quitting.
The status quo is not expected to last very long, however. Observers say that the party will, sooner or later, either split up, or leave the government coalition in toto.
At a faction meeting of the six MKs this afternoon, party leader Effie Eitam and Minister Zevulun Orlev were notably more cordial towards each other than they were last week, when it appeared that the party was headed for a split. Eitam resigned his ministerial position last Monday after the Cabinet approved, in principle, the disengagement plan - while Orlev said that Eitam must not make such a decision without approval from the party's Central Committee.
Orlev and MK Yahalom are of the opinion that the party must continue to work against the retreat from Gaza "from within the government," and should not hasten the entry of Labor into the government by resigning. Eitam and MK Yitzchak Levy, however, feel that the withdrawal ball has already begun rolling and there is no stopping it from within, and that Prime Minister Sharon will replace the NRP with Labor at his own convenience. MKs Slomiansky and Finkelstein are leaning towards quitting the government, but do not wish to cause a split in the party.
Effie Eitam said before the meeting today that the party is united in its position that the disengagement must be stopped, "but we are divided as to how this may best be done. We will do everything in our power to ensure that there is no split in the party." The decision today was that over the next few months, MKs will be given the freedom to vote as they wish on diplomatic issues. In another few months, "We will judge the situation and see whose efforts to stop the withdrawal have been more effective - those who are working as a diplomatic opposition, or those within the government."
The meeting today was disrupted when a group of Gush Katif residents burst in, demanding that the party quit the coalition and work with full force to topple the government that is resolved to expel them from their homes. MK Nissan Slomiansky, who has been serving as party peacemaker during the current crisis, was specifically targeted with sharp criticism for not taking a strong stand in favor of quitting.
The status quo is not expected to last very long, however. Observers say that the party will, sooner or later, either split up, or leave the government coalition in toto.