Israeli President Moshe Katzav Monday threw down the gauntlet and called for a national referendum on the disengagement plan that would end Jewish presence in Gush Katif and northern Samaria.
Katzav recently has said the issue should be decided “democratically”, but this is the first time he has made his position clear. Labor Party MK Ofir Pines accused the president of “grossly interfering” in the governmental process. “The only purpose of a referendum is to derail the disengagement plan, and it would be better if the president of Israel were to avoid falling into a trap that Cabinet Minister (Uzi) Landau prepared for him,” Pines charged. Landau heads the anti-disengagement action in the Likud party and faces dismissal from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon if he votes against the plan.
Landau spoke with President Katzav and explained to him that Sharon does not have a mandate for his proposed unilateral withdrawal. Landau added that the only way to preserve national unity and prevent the Likud party from breaking up is have a national poll. If the Likud members force Sharon into an unsuccessful coalition with the opposition parties, the president would be responsible for announcing new elections.
Katzav recently has said the issue should be decided “democratically”, but this is the first time he has made his position clear. Labor Party MK Ofir Pines accused the president of “grossly interfering” in the governmental process. “The only purpose of a referendum is to derail the disengagement plan, and it would be better if the president of Israel were to avoid falling into a trap that Cabinet Minister (Uzi) Landau prepared for him,” Pines charged. Landau heads the anti-disengagement action in the Likud party and faces dismissal from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon if he votes against the plan.
Landau spoke with President Katzav and explained to him that Sharon does not have a mandate for his proposed unilateral withdrawal. Landau added that the only way to preserve national unity and prevent the Likud party from breaking up is have a national poll. If the Likud members force Sharon into an unsuccessful coalition with the opposition parties, the president would be responsible for announcing new elections.