Education Minister Limor Livnat has backed down from her threat of last week to resign from the government, leaving Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu alone in the fray.
Ministers Netanyahu, Livnat, Katz and Naveh said last week, immediately after the Knesset vote on the disengagement, that they would quit the government if Prime Minister Sharon did not agree, within 14 days, to hold a national referendum. Very shortly afterwards, Katz and Naveh began toning down their statements, but Livnat made it official after meeting with Sharon before this morning's Cabinet session.
"My intention was to bring about unity," she said today, "and not division. I thought that a referendum would help prevent the government from falling and preserve party unity. When I saw that the majority did not support this initiative, I changed my mind." Netanyahu is in the United States, and is scheduled to return tomorrow.
Minister Yisrael Katz said that he was never a party to the ultimatum, "but I didn't want to hurt Netanyahu that day, who was already being attacked from all quarters... Whoever thinks that there can be a government without Netanyahu is mistaken, and therefore I'm trying to bridge the gaps. This will obligate Sharon just as much as Netanyahu to find 'creative solutions' for Netanyahu to return."
It is assumed that Sharon will not give in on the referendum issue, despite the fact that it remains an ultimative demand of the National Religious Party. NRP Minister
Zevulun Orlev announced on Tuesday night that if a referendum is held, the party agrees not to resign from the government until the end of its term - but that if within 14 days Sharon continued to reject the idea of a referendum, the party would quit. These conditions were approved by several leading Religious Zionist rabbis, as well as the Yesha Council.
MK Gila Finkelstein (NRP) told Arutz-7 today that nothing had changed: "We stand by what we said: if there is no referendum, then we don't belong in this government, and we're out of there. The Prime Minister has asked to meet with us again this week, and we'll see if anything has changed. He told us last week that he is not in favor of a referendum, but that he would 'consider' it, because he very much wants us to remain in the government. But if not, then we will resign." Asked if the Central Committee would have to be convened first, she said, "It will happen simultaneously. Tomorrow we [the MKs] will convene and decide if and when to convene the Committee." MK Finkelstein said that even if Netanyahu joins the other pro-referendum ministers in the Likud in withdrawing his ultimatum, "this will not affect us; our ultimatum stands on its own."
Arutz-7's correspondent asked her how the NRP could have agreed to a condition that states that if there is a referendum, the party would remain in the government even if it decides to uproot Jewish towns in Yesha. "Doesn't this negate everything the NRP members have said over the past months and years?" he asked. Finkelstein answered, "It is clear to me that if there is a referendum, we will work hard with great dedication, and we'll go door-to-door, and put all our efforts in, and with G-d's help, we will win it. I cannot conceive of another eventuality."
Ministers Netanyahu, Livnat, Katz and Naveh said last week, immediately after the Knesset vote on the disengagement, that they would quit the government if Prime Minister Sharon did not agree, within 14 days, to hold a national referendum. Very shortly afterwards, Katz and Naveh began toning down their statements, but Livnat made it official after meeting with Sharon before this morning's Cabinet session.
Ministers Netanyahu
Minister Katz
It is assumed that Sharon will not give in on the referendum issue, despite the fact that it remains an ultimative demand of the National Religious Party. NRP Minister
Minister Zevulun Orlev
MK Gila Finkelstein
Arutz-7's correspondent asked her how the NRP could have agreed to a condition that states that if there is a referendum, the party would remain in the government even if it decides to uproot Jewish towns in Yesha. "Doesn't this negate everything the NRP members have said over the past months and years?" he asked. Finkelstein answered, "It is clear to me that if there is a referendum, we will work hard with great dedication, and we'll go door-to-door, and put all our efforts in, and with G-d's help, we will win it. I cannot conceive of another eventuality."