Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to present the Likud Knesset faction with a detailed timetable for the implementation of the disengagement/expulsion plan. He is likely to essentially present a stark ultimatum to his Likud colleagues: Either disengagement or new elections.
Sharon told the Cabinet ministers of his plans at today's meeting. Minister Zevulun Orlev (NRP) asked him why he does not first present the timetable to the Cabinet, and Sharon said, "Nothing will stop me. I won't allow myself to be chained on my hands and feet." Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon of the Likud was critical of this remark; see next story.
The Prime Minister also provided a hint that he would not bother expanding his coalition at this point - by granting permanent status to some recent temporary ministerial appointments. He said, however, that if the composition of the coalition changes, the staffing of the ministerial positions could also. The appointments upgraded today were that of Tzippy Livny as Housing Minister (replacing Effie Eitam of the NRP), Gideon Ezra as Tourism Minister (succeeding Benny Elon of the National Union), and Meir Sheetrit as Minister of Transportation (in place of Avigdor Lieberman of the National Union).
The timetable Sharon has in mind includes the formulation of a compensation law by the end of September. This law would enable the payment of advances on the compensation that the uprooted residents are to receive - and would thus be a significant step in getting the disengagement plan off the ground. Sharon's plan is to have the law passed at the beginning of the next Knesset session, less than two months from now.
Another aspect of the plan that was discussed today is the matter of who will do the actual uprooting of the residents - the army or the police. Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, who is responsible for overseeing the police, feels it should be the army's job, while Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz says that though he will oversee the work, the police should be the ones to actually drag the residents from their homes. Maariv reported today that the army has decided to exempt from the uprooting all those soldiers who would have "psychological or mental difficulty" carrying it out.
Sharon told the Cabinet ministers of his plans at today's meeting. Minister Zevulun Orlev (NRP) asked him why he does not first present the timetable to the Cabinet, and Sharon said, "Nothing will stop me. I won't allow myself to be chained on my hands and feet." Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon of the Likud was critical of this remark; see next story.
The Prime Minister also provided a hint that he would not bother expanding his coalition at this point - by granting permanent status to some recent temporary ministerial appointments. He said, however, that if the composition of the coalition changes, the staffing of the ministerial positions could also. The appointments upgraded today were that of Tzippy Livny as Housing Minister (replacing Effie Eitam of the NRP), Gideon Ezra as Tourism Minister (succeeding Benny Elon of the National Union), and Meir Sheetrit as Minister of Transportation (in place of Avigdor Lieberman of the National Union).
The timetable Sharon has in mind includes the formulation of a compensation law by the end of September. This law would enable the payment of advances on the compensation that the uprooted residents are to receive - and would thus be a significant step in getting the disengagement plan off the ground. Sharon's plan is to have the law passed at the beginning of the next Knesset session, less than two months from now.
Another aspect of the plan that was discussed today is the matter of who will do the actual uprooting of the residents - the army or the police. Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, who is responsible for overseeing the police, feels it should be the army's job, while Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz says that though he will oversee the work, the police should be the ones to actually drag the residents from their homes. Maariv reported today that the army has decided to exempt from the uprooting all those soldiers who would have "psychological or mental difficulty" carrying it out.