The security net promised by Labor to the Sharon government has "more holes than string," said Labor Party MK Amram Mitzna last night. Labor voted against the government in yesterday's no-confidence motion submitted by the Shas Party - the first time it has done so in several weeks. Labor had promised that it would not bring down a government that was working towards withdrawing from Gaza - but the duration of this agreement apparently ended yesterday. Mitzna told Arutz-7 last night, "We said at the beginning that the security net is not automatic... In socio-economic matters we said we reserved the right to vote against. We feel that as long as the Prime Minister promotes his diplomatic plan, we will continue to provide him with this security net. But in general, we are against the way in which this government functions, and for every vote we will make a decision based on the circumstances."
The government survived the no-confidence vote yesterday by a 55-50 vote. Surprisingly, the NRP's Effie Eitam and Yitzchak Levy walked out and did not vote against. Rabbi Levy told Arutz-7 today that he did so because "this vote would not have toppled the government. We in the NRP have reached a modus vivendi as to how to remain united, and that is that we will not participate in votes that are not connected with the disengagement plan, unless we have a chance to topple the government. Yesterday's vote was one of those in which we said we would not participate, and so we didn't. This transition period is scheduled to last three months, but we feel - Eitam and I - that within a few weeks, the government will begin making concrete moves towards beginning the withdrawal from Gaza, and at that time the other NRP MKs will also have to leave, and then we will be able to work together as a united party against it. We have no interest in splitting the party; on the contrary."
Negotiations between Likud and Labor for a national unity government have not started, and some say they will not start at all. The Sharon government is expected to survive intact until the end of the current Knesset session in any event, but will be unable to withstand the beginning of the budget deliberations in the coming autumn without a solid majority. At present, it enjoys the support of the 40 Likud members - unless some of them withdraw their support in light of the disengagement plans - as well as 15 Shinui MKs, and between 2-4 NRP members. The Likud is reportedly wooing the United Torah Judaism party for support, active or tacit.
Labor officials continue to criticize Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's economic policies, alluding to their likely demand for the Finance portfolio in the event that they join the coalition. Netanyahu has announced his opposition to the inclusion of Labor in the government.
The government survived the no-confidence vote yesterday by a 55-50 vote. Surprisingly, the NRP's Effie Eitam and Yitzchak Levy walked out and did not vote against. Rabbi Levy told Arutz-7 today that he did so because "this vote would not have toppled the government. We in the NRP have reached a modus vivendi as to how to remain united, and that is that we will not participate in votes that are not connected with the disengagement plan, unless we have a chance to topple the government. Yesterday's vote was one of those in which we said we would not participate, and so we didn't. This transition period is scheduled to last three months, but we feel - Eitam and I - that within a few weeks, the government will begin making concrete moves towards beginning the withdrawal from Gaza, and at that time the other NRP MKs will also have to leave, and then we will be able to work together as a united party against it. We have no interest in splitting the party; on the contrary."
Negotiations between Likud and Labor for a national unity government have not started, and some say they will not start at all. The Sharon government is expected to survive intact until the end of the current Knesset session in any event, but will be unable to withstand the beginning of the budget deliberations in the coming autumn without a solid majority. At present, it enjoys the support of the 40 Likud members - unless some of them withdraw their support in light of the disengagement plans - as well as 15 Shinui MKs, and between 2-4 NRP members. The Likud is reportedly wooing the United Torah Judaism party for support, active or tacit.
Labor officials continue to criticize Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's economic policies, alluding to their likely demand for the Finance portfolio in the event that they join the coalition. Netanyahu has announced his opposition to the inclusion of Labor in the government.