Prime Minister Sharon thought he was making a routine appearance at a routine Likud Party gathering last night - but as soon as he mentioned the word "disengagement," he received a long round of boos that barely permitted him to continue speaking.
Almost as if he knew what was about to happen, Sharon paused immediately after beginning a new paragraph with the words, "The disengagement plan" - and the audience took immediate advantage, starting a loud round of catcalls and jeers. Sharon continued haltingly, "-- that the government decided upon, has taken off," and as the jeers grew louder, he had difficulty being heard saying, "and it will be executed precisely according to the timetable that the government set."
The remainder of his speech passed uneventfully. The Prime Minister promised to continue to fight terrorism "without compromise. We will pursue them and bring them to justice. Not a day goes by that we do not take action, and we will continue to do so." He also called for the Histadrut leaders to display national responsibility and end their strike.
Minister Yisrael Katz also made headlines when he called on Sharon to fire Interior Minister Avraham Poraz of Shinui for his recent remarks against High Holiday prayer services in public places. Katz said that Sharon should replace Poraz with someone from the Likud, "who would also display more compassion to the country's hungry and poor."
Almost as if he knew what was about to happen, Sharon paused immediately after beginning a new paragraph with the words, "The disengagement plan" - and the audience took immediate advantage, starting a loud round of catcalls and jeers. Sharon continued haltingly, "-- that the government decided upon, has taken off," and as the jeers grew louder, he had difficulty being heard saying, "and it will be executed precisely according to the timetable that the government set."
The remainder of his speech passed uneventfully. The Prime Minister promised to continue to fight terrorism "without compromise. We will pursue them and bring them to justice. Not a day goes by that we do not take action, and we will continue to do so." He also called for the Histadrut leaders to display national responsibility and end their strike.
Minister Yisrael Katz also made headlines when he called on Sharon to fire Interior Minister Avraham Poraz of Shinui for his recent remarks against High Holiday prayer services in public places. Katz said that Sharon should replace Poraz with someone from the Likud, "who would also display more compassion to the country's hungry and poor."