Prime Minister Sharon attended today's Likud Knesset faction meeting, which was expected to be a stormy one, and took a tough stance. He threatened, for possibly the first time, that new elections might be in the offing. "Either you support the party in the no-confidence motions," he said, addressing the anti-disengagement MKs who have not been consistent in supporting the government of late, "or else we have to expand the government by inviting in Labor. If neither of these, then we have to go to new elections."
MK Gilad Erdan dared to ask, "And if we vote [in favor of the government] in the no-confidence motions, then you won't bring in Labor?" Sharon responded, "If the coalition stands unanimously [with me] also in the diplomatic issues [i.e., the disengagement - ed.]. The government has decided to accept the disengagement. Some like this more, and some like it less. But the disengagement will be carried out."
A Likud Party petition is being circulated against a unity government, and many Likud Central Committee members are on hand in the Knesset today to express their objections to a partnership with Labor. Leading Committee member Uzi Cohen of Raanana has threatened "World War III" if Minister Silvan Shalom is deposed
MK Gilad Erdan dared to ask, "And if we vote [in favor of the government] in the no-confidence motions, then you won't bring in Labor?" Sharon responded, "If the coalition stands unanimously [with me] also in the diplomatic issues [i.e., the disengagement - ed.]. The government has decided to accept the disengagement. Some like this more, and some like it less. But the disengagement will be carried out."
A Likud Party petition is being circulated against a unity government, and many Likud Central Committee members are on hand in the Knesset today to express their objections to a partnership with Labor. Leading Committee member Uzi Cohen of Raanana has threatened "World War III" if Minister Silvan Shalom is deposed