The Cabinet approved the Evacuation/Compensation bill today, 13-6. Voting against were Ministers Sharansky, HaNegbi, Katz, Landau and Naveh, all of the Likud, and Zevulun Orlev of the NRP.
The bill provides for compensation for the residents to be evicted from their homes, as well as punishment for those who object. Clause 27a(5) states, for example, that one who participates in a gathering of three or more people "for the purpose of disturbing the implementation of an order" given by a security officer in the framework of the disengagement plan is subject to three years in prison - and five years, if he was armed at the time. Minister Natan Sharansky said. "This is an exact copy of a law that was in force in Russia, and under which hundreds of people were imprisoned." Though he strongly opposes the disengagement plan, he said that he even more strongly opposes the "manner in which the Prime Minister is going about implementing it. How can you try to pass such a controversial law and not allow three people to talk among themselves?"
The compensation for residents to be evicted was raised, and now stands at a base sum of some $330,000 per household.
The bill's next step is its first Knesset reading, a week from now. Sharon has threatened to fire ministers and deputy ministers who vote against the disengagement in Tuesday's Knesset vote thus placing Ministers HaNegbi, Katz, Landau and Naveh in a bind. Sharansky is not a Knesset Member, and Orlev's party is likely to quit the government on its own after the vote.
Minister HaNegbi called on Sharon today to accept his expected victory on Tuesday graciously, and not to exacerbate tensions within the party by firing ministers who vote against the plan. Katz has been rumored to consider abstaining on Tuesday, or voting against and then resigning from the Cabinet. Landau is expected to vote against, and has said that he is "not afraid" of being fired.
Ministers Netanyahu, Shalom and Livnat voted in favor of the bill, thus signaling that their previous opposition to the bill is no longer a factor. Likud MK Ehud Yatom, who strongly opposes the disengagement, reminded the three this morning that they made their support for the plan conditional on several factors, including the completion of the anti-terror partition wall - which has not yet been completed. Four Shinui ministers voted in favor; the fifth, Minister Yehudit Naot, is ill.
The bill provides for compensation for the residents to be evicted from their homes, as well as punishment for those who object. Clause 27a(5) states, for example, that one who participates in a gathering of three or more people "for the purpose of disturbing the implementation of an order" given by a security officer in the framework of the disengagement plan is subject to three years in prison - and five years, if he was armed at the time. Minister Natan Sharansky said. "This is an exact copy of a law that was in force in Russia, and under which hundreds of people were imprisoned." Though he strongly opposes the disengagement plan, he said that he even more strongly opposes the "manner in which the Prime Minister is going about implementing it. How can you try to pass such a controversial law and not allow three people to talk among themselves?"
The compensation for residents to be evicted was raised, and now stands at a base sum of some $330,000 per household.
The bill's next step is its first Knesset reading, a week from now. Sharon has threatened to fire ministers and deputy ministers who vote against the disengagement in Tuesday's Knesset vote thus placing Ministers HaNegbi, Katz, Landau and Naveh in a bind. Sharansky is not a Knesset Member, and Orlev's party is likely to quit the government on its own after the vote.
Minister HaNegbi called on Sharon today to accept his expected victory on Tuesday graciously, and not to exacerbate tensions within the party by firing ministers who vote against the plan. Katz has been rumored to consider abstaining on Tuesday, or voting against and then resigning from the Cabinet. Landau is expected to vote against, and has said that he is "not afraid" of being fired.
Ministers Netanyahu, Shalom and Livnat voted in favor of the bill, thus signaling that their previous opposition to the bill is no longer a factor. Likud MK Ehud Yatom, who strongly opposes the disengagement, reminded the three this morning that they made their support for the plan conditional on several factors, including the completion of the anti-terror partition wall - which has not yet been completed. Four Shinui ministers voted in favor; the fifth, Minister Yehudit Naot, is ill.