More signs of trouble for the Sharon government came today from MK Yuli Edelstein and two deputy ministers of the Likud. Likud MK Edelstein sent a letter to Prime Minister Sharon saying that if Sharon does not allow for a national referendum on the issue of the disengagement, he will consider himself no longer a member of the government.
The letter states as follows, "I hereby inform you that, in accordance with the spirit of the decisions of the Likud, I plan to oppose the disengagement bill this Tuesday. At the same time, I call upon you to... put the matter up for a national referendum. I promise to accept whatever the result is of such a referendum, and I will even try to persuade my colleagues to accept it. If you do not agree to do this, I must inform you that I will see myself released from the obligations of coalition discipline and will vote from now on only according to my conscience and the voters' will."
The Likud's Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Michael Ratzon, another leading Likud opponent of the unilateral expulsion plan, threatens to vote against the government-sponsored 2005 budget when it comes up for a vote. Deputy Defense Minister Yaakov Edry said that he has already decided not to support the budget. His reason: the cut of 1,000 policemen from the payroll.
The letter states as follows, "I hereby inform you that, in accordance with the spirit of the decisions of the Likud, I plan to oppose the disengagement bill this Tuesday. At the same time, I call upon you to... put the matter up for a national referendum. I promise to accept whatever the result is of such a referendum, and I will even try to persuade my colleagues to accept it. If you do not agree to do this, I must inform you that I will see myself released from the obligations of coalition discipline and will vote from now on only according to my conscience and the voters' will."
The Likud's Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Michael Ratzon, another leading Likud opponent of the unilateral expulsion plan, threatens to vote against the government-sponsored 2005 budget when it comes up for a vote. Deputy Defense Minister Yaakov Edry said that he has already decided not to support the budget. His reason: the cut of 1,000 policemen from the payroll.