The Board of Gush Katif Communities asks the National Religious Party to make a simple calculation: "If you have a clear political plan to thwart the disengagement plan, then it's clear that you should remain in the government and carry it out. If there is no such plan, then it is clear that you should leave."
NRP leader MK Effie Eitam has asked to convene the party's Central Committee in the coming days to decide on the party's future. Eitam and MK Yitzchak Levy resigned from the coalition three months ago, refusing to take part in the disengagement process. The party's four other MKs, led by Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, insisted that the party could best serve the religious-Zionist public and the opponents of the disengagement by remaining to "fight from within."
The Gush Katif communities ask that the party ensure its integrity and unity: "The Knesset faction must take upon itself to formulate a unanimous recommendation for the Central Committee" regarding the question of whether to remain in the coalition or quit - based on whether or not a plan exists to thwart the disengagement plan.
If such a plan does not exist, the Gush Katif communities say, "you should resign from the Cabinet, in order to de-legitimize the government, and to enable all six of the party MKs to vote against all the stages of the disengagement legislation, against its budgeting, and against the Prime Minister in no-confidence votes."
The Gush Katif body explained that it wishes to avoid a situation in which two options are placed before the Central Committee. It also does not want the MKs to rely on the mere "possibility" that they could stop the disengagement plan at one of its future stages, "as it appears is currently the case."
Committee Chairman Shmaryah Ben-Tzur told Arutz-7 today that of the 1,050 Central Committee members, "I expect more than 900 to show up; the question of whether to quit now or later is a very important and burning issue." He acknowledged that there is a personal competition between Eitam and Orlev, "as in all political parties, but it's minor compared to the real issue." Ben-Tzur said that some compromise proposals have been considered, but "I don't think there is a way to bridge between the two sides." He had not heard of the above Gush Katif proposal until Arutz-7's correspondent mentioned it to him, but said that it, too, would apparently not be acceptable. The correspondent then faxed it to him for his consideration.
NRP leader MK Effie Eitam has asked to convene the party's Central Committee in the coming days to decide on the party's future. Eitam and MK Yitzchak Levy resigned from the coalition three months ago, refusing to take part in the disengagement process. The party's four other MKs, led by Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, insisted that the party could best serve the religious-Zionist public and the opponents of the disengagement by remaining to "fight from within."
The Gush Katif communities ask that the party ensure its integrity and unity: "The Knesset faction must take upon itself to formulate a unanimous recommendation for the Central Committee" regarding the question of whether to remain in the coalition or quit - based on whether or not a plan exists to thwart the disengagement plan.
If such a plan does not exist, the Gush Katif communities say, "you should resign from the Cabinet, in order to de-legitimize the government, and to enable all six of the party MKs to vote against all the stages of the disengagement legislation, against its budgeting, and against the Prime Minister in no-confidence votes."
The Gush Katif body explained that it wishes to avoid a situation in which two options are placed before the Central Committee. It also does not want the MKs to rely on the mere "possibility" that they could stop the disengagement plan at one of its future stages, "as it appears is currently the case."
Committee Chairman Shmaryah Ben-Tzur told Arutz-7 today that of the 1,050 Central Committee members, "I expect more than 900 to show up; the question of whether to quit now or later is a very important and burning issue." He acknowledged that there is a personal competition between Eitam and Orlev, "as in all political parties, but it's minor compared to the real issue." Ben-Tzur said that some compromise proposals have been considered, but "I don't think there is a way to bridge between the two sides." He had not heard of the above Gush Katif proposal until Arutz-7's correspondent mentioned it to him, but said that it, too, would apparently not be acceptable. The correspondent then faxed it to him for his consideration.