Leaders of Gush Katif this morning refused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s request to discuss his plan to dismantle the 21 Jewish communities they represent.
The refusal comes two days after leaders of all the communities in the Gaza, Judea and Samaria left empty-handed after a two-hour session with the Prime Minister.
“We cannot disguise the absolute break that the Prime Minister has created,” said a spokesman for Gush Katif. “We respect the invitation, but we have no choice but to turn it down, especially when the Prime Minister has no intention of a true dialogue.”
Sharon responded he was sorry that the leaders from the communities on the southern Mediterranean coast cancelled the meeting. Yesha leaders wanted to convince the Prime Minister to hold a national referendum on the controversial plan, but he refused to directly discuss their arguments. Sharon's plan also would eradicate four communities in northern Samaria.
Avner Shimoni, head of the Gaza Coast Regional Council and one of the Yesha Council leaders who met Sharon two days ago, called the discussion a “disgrace” and a “dialogue of the deaf.” Some of the leaders wanted to proceed with the meeting, Shimoni added, “but we unanimously decided there was no reason to do so.”
An on-line survey on the Katif.net website shows that opinion is about equally divided as to whether or not Gush Katif leaders should have attended the meeting with Sharon.
Shimoni told Arutz Sheva Monday night he rejected Sharon’s claim that the Yesha leaders do not represent the Israeli public. “It's not just the Yesha Council asking for a referendum. It starts with Bibi Netanyahu, and Limor Livnat, and most of the Likud, and President Katzav, and polls showing 70% of the populace telling him to receive a mandate on this issue from the people. Under such circumstances, I think we are justified in expecting the Prime Minister not to think that he is the nation."
Shimoni said that he is not at all confident of the results of such a referendum: "We don't feel that it's in our pocket, and there is what to fear. But we fear even more a civil war that appears to be bearing down upon us. Just look at the recent developments [the calls upon soldiers to refuse orders, and the counter-calls - ed.]. Amidst all this chaos, it is appropriate to try to instill such order. I personally am very much against a referendum on the Land of Israel, but if there is no choice, this could be the tool by which the Prime Minister could gain some legitimacy for his otherwise illegitimate acts."
Asked what would be his own reaction in case the nationalist camp loses in the referendum, Shimoni said, "The question should really be what Sharon will do in case he loses, based on his response to the Likud party referendum... For us, it's a very hard question. We will continue to fight, with all the democratic tools at my disposal, to protect our homes - but at least there will not be a civil war in the end."
The refusal comes two days after leaders of all the communities in the Gaza, Judea and Samaria left empty-handed after a two-hour session with the Prime Minister.
“We cannot disguise the absolute break that the Prime Minister has created,” said a spokesman for Gush Katif. “We respect the invitation, but we have no choice but to turn it down, especially when the Prime Minister has no intention of a true dialogue.”
Sharon responded he was sorry that the leaders from the communities on the southern Mediterranean coast cancelled the meeting. Yesha leaders wanted to convince the Prime Minister to hold a national referendum on the controversial plan, but he refused to directly discuss their arguments. Sharon's plan also would eradicate four communities in northern Samaria.
Avner Shimoni, head of the Gaza Coast Regional Council and one of the Yesha Council leaders who met Sharon two days ago, called the discussion a “disgrace” and a “dialogue of the deaf.” Some of the leaders wanted to proceed with the meeting, Shimoni added, “but we unanimously decided there was no reason to do so.”
An on-line survey on the Katif.net website shows that opinion is about equally divided as to whether or not Gush Katif leaders should have attended the meeting with Sharon.
Shimoni told Arutz Sheva Monday night he rejected Sharon’s claim that the Yesha leaders do not represent the Israeli public. “It's not just the Yesha Council asking for a referendum. It starts with Bibi Netanyahu, and Limor Livnat, and most of the Likud, and President Katzav, and polls showing 70% of the populace telling him to receive a mandate on this issue from the people. Under such circumstances, I think we are justified in expecting the Prime Minister not to think that he is the nation."
Shimoni said that he is not at all confident of the results of such a referendum: "We don't feel that it's in our pocket, and there is what to fear. But we fear even more a civil war that appears to be bearing down upon us. Just look at the recent developments [the calls upon soldiers to refuse orders, and the counter-calls - ed.]. Amidst all this chaos, it is appropriate to try to instill such order. I personally am very much against a referendum on the Land of Israel, but if there is no choice, this could be the tool by which the Prime Minister could gain some legitimacy for his otherwise illegitimate acts."
Asked what would be his own reaction in case the nationalist camp loses in the referendum, Shimoni said, "The question should really be what Sharon will do in case he loses, based on his response to the Likud party referendum... For us, it's a very hard question. We will continue to fight, with all the democratic tools at my disposal, to protect our homes - but at least there will not be a civil war in the end."