In light of yesterday's no-confidence votes, it appears that Prime Minister Sharon will be once again seeking out Labor Party support for his coalition. Lior Horev, a high-ranking strategic advisor to the Prime Minister, told Army Radio today that it's clear that "within a few months, either before or shortly after the summer recess, we will have a different coalition - one that will help us pass the disengagement plan and the budget." Horev said that the Labor Party is a welcome potential partner for the Likud.
These remarks pose a potential threat to the National Religious Party, whose four remaining coalition MKs feel that their presence in the government is the best way to prevent Labor from joining it. Strongly opposing the disengagement plan, they are of the opinion that they can best fight it from within the government.
Arutz-7 posed the following question to NRP MK Nissan Slomiansky: "In light of Lior Horev's comments, would it not be correct to say that the NRP now faces two options: to be thrown out of the coalition, or to leave on its own?"
Slomiansky responded as follows:
"First of all, the Likud does not want Labor in the government before the budget is passed, because Labor very much opposes Finance Minister Netanyahu's policies. On the other hand, having Labor join is the least of the evils as far as the Likud is concerned. Even those Likud MKs who oppose the disengagement/expulsion plan have three conditions that they want to ensure. In order of importance, these are: no new elections; no replacing the Prime Minister - the only possible candidate is Netanyahu, and he himself supports the disengagement to some extent; and no Labor. If the NRP leaves the government, the Likud MKs will see themselves as having no choice but to agree to Labor's inclusion - and then the disengagement will take place not in nine months, but in two months!
"Therefore, we have to try to stall things for a few more months, ensuring 1) that Labor does not enter, and 2) that no irreversible facts leading to a withdrawal from Gaza are created. By 'irreversible facts' I mean, for instance, the payment of compensation to residents. During this period, various things could happen: The Yesha Council plan might succeed in causing a public opinion turnabout, [Attorney-General] Mazuz might come up with something, the government could fall because of the budget, there could be new elections, etc. But if we leave now, and Labor enters, nothing will stop them on their way to implement the disengagement - except for G-d."
Click here to read Effie Eitam's counter-position, as reported last week.
These remarks pose a potential threat to the National Religious Party, whose four remaining coalition MKs feel that their presence in the government is the best way to prevent Labor from joining it. Strongly opposing the disengagement plan, they are of the opinion that they can best fight it from within the government.
Arutz-7 posed the following question to NRP MK Nissan Slomiansky: "In light of Lior Horev's comments, would it not be correct to say that the NRP now faces two options: to be thrown out of the coalition, or to leave on its own?"
Slomiansky responded as follows:
"First of all, the Likud does not want Labor in the government before the budget is passed, because Labor very much opposes Finance Minister Netanyahu's policies. On the other hand, having Labor join is the least of the evils as far as the Likud is concerned. Even those Likud MKs who oppose the disengagement/expulsion plan have three conditions that they want to ensure. In order of importance, these are: no new elections; no replacing the Prime Minister - the only possible candidate is Netanyahu, and he himself supports the disengagement to some extent; and no Labor. If the NRP leaves the government, the Likud MKs will see themselves as having no choice but to agree to Labor's inclusion - and then the disengagement will take place not in nine months, but in two months!
"Therefore, we have to try to stall things for a few more months, ensuring 1) that Labor does not enter, and 2) that no irreversible facts leading to a withdrawal from Gaza are created. By 'irreversible facts' I mean, for instance, the payment of compensation to residents. During this period, various things could happen: The Yesha Council plan might succeed in causing a public opinion turnabout, [Attorney-General] Mazuz might come up with something, the government could fall because of the budget, there could be new elections, etc. But if we leave now, and Labor enters, nothing will stop them on their way to implement the disengagement - except for G-d."
Click here to read Effie Eitam's counter-position, as reported last week.