Most observers assume that Likud opponents to the disengagement would oppose the inclusion of the Labor Party in the coalition. This is not necessarily the case, however. Likud MK Gilad Erdan, a leading opponent of the disengagement, explained why to Arutz-7 today.
"It's true that the inclusion of Labor is a bad sign," Erdan said, "but the other option is going to new elections - which could be even worse. If Sharon is chosen again to head the Likud, and if he wins the election, then we will no longer be able to say that the disengagement is an illegitimate move and that Sharon is going against his mandate."
MK Shlomo Benizri of Shas, who has served in the past as Minister of Health and Minister of Labor, said that most of his party MKs, including himself, are not interested in joining the government. He listed several reasons:
"For one thing, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef has ruled unequivocally against a unilateral disengagement, which is a major pillar of Sharon's policies. If Arafat's death enables the onset of negotiations with the PA, that's something else, but at present, our position is unchanged. In addition, we are very against the socio-economic policies of the government; clearly, they're not planning to change the entire budget for us. Thirdly, we don't know what the Likud Central Committee will decide; maybe the Likud doesn't even want Labor at all, and we'll go to new elections... In general, we have no desire to join a transition government; we'd rather have new elections altogether."
In response to a question, Benizri said that Shas would have no objection if UTJ joins the government and Shas remains outside of it. "If they succeed in benefiting the Torah world, which I assume that they will do satisfactorily, even if not precisely the same way as we would, then that's fine with us," Benizri said.
On the right side of the political spectrum, MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) called upon Sharon to turn towards the right in forming his new government, and not towards the left. He said that Sharon should restore the National Union and NRP to the coalition. "The alliance between the Prime Minister's advisors Dov Weisglass, Omri Sharon and Eyal Arad, together with Shimon Peres, the 'indefatigable underminer' [as Rabin once called him - ed.] for the sole purpose of enabling the disengagement plan, will send Israel hurtling towards a security catastrophe, economic damages of billions of dollars, and the entrenchment of a Hamas state in the northern Shomron and Gaza."
Hendel said that Sharon should form a right-wing government of 70 MKs, including the religious parties, "in accordance with the voters' decision in the last elections."
"It's true that the inclusion of Labor is a bad sign," Erdan said, "but the other option is going to new elections - which could be even worse. If Sharon is chosen again to head the Likud, and if he wins the election, then we will no longer be able to say that the disengagement is an illegitimate move and that Sharon is going against his mandate."
MK Shlomo Benizri of Shas, who has served in the past as Minister of Health and Minister of Labor, said that most of his party MKs, including himself, are not interested in joining the government. He listed several reasons:
"For one thing, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef has ruled unequivocally against a unilateral disengagement, which is a major pillar of Sharon's policies. If Arafat's death enables the onset of negotiations with the PA, that's something else, but at present, our position is unchanged. In addition, we are very against the socio-economic policies of the government; clearly, they're not planning to change the entire budget for us. Thirdly, we don't know what the Likud Central Committee will decide; maybe the Likud doesn't even want Labor at all, and we'll go to new elections... In general, we have no desire to join a transition government; we'd rather have new elections altogether."
In response to a question, Benizri said that Shas would have no objection if UTJ joins the government and Shas remains outside of it. "If they succeed in benefiting the Torah world, which I assume that they will do satisfactorily, even if not precisely the same way as we would, then that's fine with us," Benizri said.
On the right side of the political spectrum, MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) called upon Sharon to turn towards the right in forming his new government, and not towards the left. He said that Sharon should restore the National Union and NRP to the coalition. "The alliance between the Prime Minister's advisors Dov Weisglass, Omri Sharon and Eyal Arad, together with Shimon Peres, the 'indefatigable underminer' [as Rabin once called him - ed.] for the sole purpose of enabling the disengagement plan, will send Israel hurtling towards a security catastrophe, economic damages of billions of dollars, and the entrenchment of a Hamas state in the northern Shomron and Gaza."
Hendel said that Sharon should form a right-wing government of 70 MKs, including the religious parties, "in accordance with the voters' decision in the last elections."