The Likud Party Central Committee voted last night against Prime Minister Sharon's attempts to include the Labor Party in his government coalition. The vote places a big question mark on the future of the government and the disengagement plan.
The convention delegates were asked to vote on two proposals. One, formulated by Prime Minister Sharon, stated that the Prime Minister should be authorized to conduct coalition negotiations with any Zionist party of his choice. The second proposal, by Minister Uzi Landau, stipulated that such negotiations could not be held with the Labor Party. Some 2,900 Committee members, half of whom were in attendance, were eligible to vote for one, neither or both of the proposals.
The final results, which were released around midnight, showed that Sharon's proposal was narrowly defeated by a handful of votes, while Landau's proposition passed with 58% of the vote.
For the past two months, Sharon has headed a minority government of 59 MKs - the result of the resignation of two National Religious Party MKs, who quit the coalition after he kicked out the National Union party because of its support for the disengagement plan. The government did not fall, however, mainly because Labor - the largest opposition party - entertained hopes of joining the government and did not vote against it in critical votes. In mid-July, Labor and Likud began official negotiations for the entry of Labor into the government, despite the objections of many in the Likud. Their objections were based either on their objections to the disengagement, which Labor very much favors, or because of other ideological differences between the parties. In Labor, as well, not everyone was in favor of joining a national unity government with the Likud.
Likud MK Gideon Saar - head of the Likud's Knesset faction - said this morning that the decision last night was binding. He implied that he would be resigning from his party's negotiating team with Labor. Saar called on his party colleagues to do everything they could to maintain unity within the Likud.
The Prime Minister's Office has issued statements that it will continue efforts to broaden the coalition.
The convention delegates were asked to vote on two proposals. One, formulated by Prime Minister Sharon, stated that the Prime Minister should be authorized to conduct coalition negotiations with any Zionist party of his choice. The second proposal, by Minister Uzi Landau, stipulated that such negotiations could not be held with the Labor Party. Some 2,900 Committee members, half of whom were in attendance, were eligible to vote for one, neither or both of the proposals.
The final results, which were released around midnight, showed that Sharon's proposal was narrowly defeated by a handful of votes, while Landau's proposition passed with 58% of the vote.
For the past two months, Sharon has headed a minority government of 59 MKs - the result of the resignation of two National Religious Party MKs, who quit the coalition after he kicked out the National Union party because of its support for the disengagement plan. The government did not fall, however, mainly because Labor - the largest opposition party - entertained hopes of joining the government and did not vote against it in critical votes. In mid-July, Labor and Likud began official negotiations for the entry of Labor into the government, despite the objections of many in the Likud. Their objections were based either on their objections to the disengagement, which Labor very much favors, or because of other ideological differences between the parties. In Labor, as well, not everyone was in favor of joining a national unity government with the Likud.
Likud MK Gideon Saar - head of the Likud's Knesset faction - said this morning that the decision last night was binding. He implied that he would be resigning from his party's negotiating team with Labor. Saar called on his party colleagues to do everything they could to maintain unity within the Likud.
The Prime Minister's Office has issued statements that it will continue efforts to broaden the coalition.