Another result of last night's defeat in the Knesset for Prime Minister Sharon is the reawakening of the referendum option. Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, leader of the Shinui Party, met with Sharon this morning and proposed that he once again consider the idea - on condition that the Yesha Council agrees in advance to abide by its results. Lapid said that it could have the positive results of preventing a split in the nation. Sharon turned down the idea, saying that it is merely a trick by opponents of the disengagement to delay the timetable.
However, the idea may be gaining momentum, with Ministers Orlev, Netanyahu, Landau and others already expressing support. The ministerial legislative committee has turned it down, but because Netanyahu's vote in favor was not counted, the issue will apparently be brought for a full Cabinet vote.
Minister Lapid also told Prime Minister Sharon today that the goal should now be to expand the government. He means only that Labor, and possibly United Torah Judaism, should be invited to join; Shinui refuses to sit with either Shas or Meretz/Yachad. UTJ, for its part, will not join a government with Shinui, and the Likud Central Committee has given thumbs-down to Labor.
The disengagement suffered another defeat today, this time in the Knesset Finance Committee. The Finance Ministry withdrew its proposal to allocate 5.136 million shekels to the Justice Ministry for preparing and formulating the Disengagement Law. The proposal was withdrawn after it became clear that the opponents of the bill had banded together to form a majority against it. Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri-Levy reports that the "victory" was the result of "fancy political footwork" on the part of Likud MKs and Gush Katif's "We are the Majority" lobbying group.
However, the idea may be gaining momentum, with Ministers Orlev, Netanyahu, Landau and others already expressing support. The ministerial legislative committee has turned it down, but because Netanyahu's vote in favor was not counted, the issue will apparently be brought for a full Cabinet vote.
Minister Lapid also told Prime Minister Sharon today that the goal should now be to expand the government. He means only that Labor, and possibly United Torah Judaism, should be invited to join; Shinui refuses to sit with either Shas or Meretz/Yachad. UTJ, for its part, will not join a government with Shinui, and the Likud Central Committee has given thumbs-down to Labor.
The disengagement suffered another defeat today, this time in the Knesset Finance Committee. The Finance Ministry withdrew its proposal to allocate 5.136 million shekels to the Justice Ministry for preparing and formulating the Disengagement Law. The proposal was withdrawn after it became clear that the opponents of the bill had banded together to form a majority against it. Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri-Levy reports that the "victory" was the result of "fancy political footwork" on the part of Likud MKs and Gush Katif's "We are the Majority" lobbying group.