Interviewer Ariel Kahane asked MK Hendel (National Union) about the political ramifications of the Attorney-General's decision of last night: "If Labor now enters the government, as many are saying, won't that harm the efforts to stop the withdrawal?"
Hendel: "Not at all. It will be great. Because from the minute Labor gets in, if the Likud 'rebels' don't succeed in blocking it, the unrest in the Likud will begin. This is because if Labor joins the coalition, they won't sit quietly and allow the disengagement to proceed at the slow rate that was decided upon two weeks ago. Rather, [Labor MK Avrum] Burg will prod Shimon Peres, who will then push Arik, and this will raise the Jewish Zionist normalcy within the Likud, with the 12 rebels being joined by another one and then another one, and within a short time we will have 61 MKs who will topple the government..."
A-7: "Do you agree that the NRP's presence in the government is somewhat blocking the entry of Labor?"
Hendel: "And if so - so what? What difference does it make? Even without Labor, isn't Sharon beginning the uprooting and preparing the compensation? What difference does it make who sits in the government? But soon the Likud will begin to wake up to its true self... The people of Gush Katif are beginning to go from house to house to speak to the people, and this will wake up the Likud. After all, most of the nation voted for the right/religious. But these house-to-house efforts are weakened by the 'fig leaf' of [coalition-supporting NRP members] Yahalom and Orlev, because people will say, 'What, the NRP doesn't know everything you're saying? Look, they're still supportive...' and the like. So their presence in the government disturbs our efforts. As soon as this 'fig leaf' leaves, we'll be able to really get to work."
Hendel: "Not at all. It will be great. Because from the minute Labor gets in, if the Likud 'rebels' don't succeed in blocking it, the unrest in the Likud will begin. This is because if Labor joins the coalition, they won't sit quietly and allow the disengagement to proceed at the slow rate that was decided upon two weeks ago. Rather, [Labor MK Avrum] Burg will prod Shimon Peres, who will then push Arik, and this will raise the Jewish Zionist normalcy within the Likud, with the 12 rebels being joined by another one and then another one, and within a short time we will have 61 MKs who will topple the government..."
A-7: "Do you agree that the NRP's presence in the government is somewhat blocking the entry of Labor?"
Hendel: "And if so - so what? What difference does it make? Even without Labor, isn't Sharon beginning the uprooting and preparing the compensation? What difference does it make who sits in the government? But soon the Likud will begin to wake up to its true self... The people of Gush Katif are beginning to go from house to house to speak to the people, and this will wake up the Likud. After all, most of the nation voted for the right/religious. But these house-to-house efforts are weakened by the 'fig leaf' of [coalition-supporting NRP members] Yahalom and Orlev, because people will say, 'What, the NRP doesn't know everything you're saying? Look, they're still supportive...' and the like. So their presence in the government disturbs our efforts. As soon as this 'fig leaf' leaves, we'll be able to really get to work."