How They Voted

The disengagement plan was passed in the Knesset last night, by a historic 67-45 margin.



Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Limor Livnat, both from the ruling Likud party, voted in favor of dismantling Jewish Gaza. However, minutes after the vote, they made a dramatic announcement to the press: they will quit the government in two weeks, possibly along with two other Likud ministers, if the Prime Minister will not agree to hold a national referendum on the Gaza Plan.



Aside from Ministers Netanyahu and Livnat, many other votes aroused interest. Minister Yisrael Katz, a leading member of the "Likud loyalists" opposed to the disengagement plan, voted in favor, fearing Sharon's threat of dismissal. Some said that he had thus forfeited his right to lead those who oppose the withdrawal.



Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, as well, opposes the plan, but never indicated he would vote against it - and in fact voted in favor. He said that the vote had nothing to do with removing Jewish communities, but was rather a ratification of the Cabinet decision of June 7.



Likud Minister Danny Naveh has expressed opposition to the plan, absented himself from the first polling last night, but ultimately voted in favor of the plan.



MK Yisrael Eichler of United Torah Judaism had indicated he would abstain, but in the end, voted against the plan, together with all the other members of the hareidi parties - UTJ (5) and Shas (11). Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, who issued a strong ruling against the disengagement plan, phoned Eichler's rabbinical authority, the Rabbi of Belz, yesterday afternoon, and asked him to advise Eichler to vote against. On the other hand, at least two other UTJ Knesset Members said they voted against - not because they oppose the plan, but because of political considerations.



Several Arab Knesset Members, particularly Muhammed Barakeh, embarrassed themselves when they changed their vote at the last moment. A rowdy exchange between Labor MK Chaim Ramon and Barakeh had taken place in the Knesset several hours earlier, when Ramon accused the Arab MKs of subjugating their ideals to their political needs. "You know very well," Ramon railed at Barakeh, "that if we in Labor were not voting for this plan, thus giving it a majority, then you would vote for it. What, are we your Shabbat Goy [a reference to non-Jews who perform actions on the Sabbath for Jews who are not permitted to carry them out]?! You know that this plan is exactly what you want, and yet you're voting together with the right-wing against it! Look at who your allies are - Effie Eitam, Benny Elon and the like!"



Barakeh responded furiously and could barely contain himself, continuing to shout at Ramon even after the latter was on his way out of the plenum. Holding a copy of the disengagement plan, Barakeh shouted, "I cannot vote for a plan that states that it does not stipulate the removal of communities! I cannot vote for a plan that states that it is aimed to strengthen Israel's hold on Judea and Samaria!" In the end, when it appeared that a last-minute change of vote by some Likud ministers might endanger the plan's passage, Barakeh and five of his Arab colleagues abstained, instead of voting against. The other two Arab MKs had said all along that they would vote in favor, and did so.



The other abstention was that of MK David Tal, formerly of Shas and now of Labor's Am Echad faction. He had planned to vote in favor, but following Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef ruling against the plan, changed his mind. It should be noted that Rabbi Yosef's ruling negated abstention, saying, "If you see a baby drowning, would you abstain from helping?!"



Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin of the Likud voted against the plan, as he long indicated he would. He has in fact expressed strong criticism of Ariel Sharon for the plan... MK Eli Aflalo (Likud) arrived at the Knesset from the hospital in an ambulance, and voted in favor of the plan... MK Yehudit Naot of Shinui, who resigned her Cabinet post due to illness, was the only MK not present for last night's vote... MK Chemi Doron (Shinui), who had been rumored to be considering voting against or abstaining, voted in favor...



The entire Shinui faction voted in favor, as did all of Labor (except for Tal) and Meretz/Yachad. The entire NRP and National Union factions (except for Michael Nudelman, who voted 'yea') voted against. The Likud was split almost down the middle, with 17 voting against and 23 in favor. Among those voting against Sharon's plan were Chaim Katz, Ness, Kara, Kachlon, Gorlovsky, Erdan, Chazan, Yatom, Ben-Lulu, Saar, Blumental, Gamliel, Edelstein and David Levy.