"The attempt to present the situation as if the choice is only between new elections or the entry of Labor is a deception," Landau said. "The Prime Minister has other alternatives, such as building a coalition with his natural right-wing partners, or a referendum [on the disengagement]."
Likud Central Committee member Shevach Stern agrees. He told Army Radio this morning that there is no reason to include Labor in the coalition: "The Labor Party merely wants to crumble the Likud. Labor only has 19 MKs, and its joining the national unity government will only rejuvenate it." In actuality, Stern said, "Sharon has another fine alternative: the natural coalition of the Likud with the religious parties and the National Union, which would give him 68 MKs."
Stern said that Sharon's purpose in bringing Shimon Peres into the government is "simply in order to bypass the Central Committee [regarding the disengagement]."
Itzik Regev, another Central Committee member, is among those who feel that Labor should be included. He said today that the correct approach is to allow the Prime Minister to negotiate with whomever he wishes, and that the Labor Party is a "Zionist party and certainly not as anti-religious as Shinui." Regev added that the reason why Labor decreased to 19 MKs is Ariel Sharon himself. To this, Stern replied, "Not true; it was actually [former Labor leader] Ehud Barak. It would have been the same result even if Itzik Regev would have headed the Likud."
The Likud Central Committee is scheduled to convene this coming Thursday to decide whether or not to authorize Prime Minister Sharon to include Labor in the coalition. The proposal to be presented, as agreed upon today by the Likud's ministers and deputy ministers, reads as follows:
"Because a minority government comprised only of the Likud faction is currently ruling, and because a stable and broad coalition is necessary in order to prevent a possible deterioration to new elections, the Likud Committee supports the expansion of the coalition in a manner incorporating the Likud, Labor, and the religious factions. Shortly after this session, negotiations will begin with Labor, Shas and United Torah Judaism, with the aim of including them in the coalition."
The Committee decided this past August not to agree to Labor's inclusion, unless a religious party or two was also included. The situation today is different from at least two standpoints, however.
For one thing, Shinui is no longer in the coalition, such that a secular-left leaning government of Likud/Shinui/Labor is no longer an option.
In addition, many Central Committee members assume, in accordance with Sharon's declaration, that the only other alternative is new elections – which they do not want. "It's either Labor, or suicide," one member said. It is this approach that Landau, Stern and others wish to negate.
Health Minister Danny Naveh, too, another disengagement/expulsion opponent, said on Friday that he would rather have the Likud "renew our historic alliance with the religious parties," and not be beholden to Labor.
Many observers feel that Sharon's pro-Labor camp currently has the edge, but that it is still too close to call. Two camps of Labor-opponents exist within the Likud Central Committee: Those who object to the disengagement, and those who fear Labor's influence in the government, specifically in terms of the budget and possibly the Interior Ministry. At a gathering of nearly 1,000 supporters of Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz [pictured above] last night, speaker after speaker raised the demand for Katz to be awarded the Interior Ministry. Many Likud mayors are anxious for party control over this ministry in order to shore up their financially-faltering municipalities.
Stern admitted that there are some Likud members who would agree to Labor's inclusion in exchange for a Likud Interior Minister. "However," he said, "there are many within the Likud whose motivations are solely ideological. Witness the recent vote in which some 1,200 members, about 40%, voted for [disengagement opponent] Uzi Landau for Committee Chairman." Stern heads the Forum for Likud Values, a body associated with the 125-member Manhigut Yehudit [Jewish Leadership] faction.
Ariel Sharon has said that all future coalition partners must agree in advance to support the disengagement. This rules out Shas, and complicates matters for United Torah Judaism. However, Likud Central Committee member Aviad Visouly has submitted an alternative proposal for Thursday's session – and he threatens to take it to the Likud Court if it is not presented for a vote. Visouly proposes that the Committee authorize the coalition negotiators to deal only with parties that are opposed to the disengagement plan. This would rule out Labor, and pave the way for a right-wing coalition.
Another wrinkle was added by a "high-placed" UTJ figure, who said today that his party could not afford to join the government without Shas.
In any event, Prime Minister Sharon has refused to say whether he would honor whatever decision is reached by the Likud Central Committee. Asked by reporters last week if he would abide by the party's decision, the Prime Minister said Thursday, "I know how to handle things... I expect to win the vote."
Likud Central Committee member Shevach Stern agrees. He told Army Radio this morning that there is no reason to include Labor in the coalition: "The Labor Party merely wants to crumble the Likud. Labor only has 19 MKs, and its joining the national unity government will only rejuvenate it." In actuality, Stern said, "Sharon has another fine alternative: the natural coalition of the Likud with the religious parties and the National Union, which would give him 68 MKs."
Stern said that Sharon's purpose in bringing Shimon Peres into the government is "simply in order to bypass the Central Committee [regarding the disengagement]."
Itzik Regev, another Central Committee member, is among those who feel that Labor should be included. He said today that the correct approach is to allow the Prime Minister to negotiate with whomever he wishes, and that the Labor Party is a "Zionist party and certainly not as anti-religious as Shinui." Regev added that the reason why Labor decreased to 19 MKs is Ariel Sharon himself. To this, Stern replied, "Not true; it was actually [former Labor leader] Ehud Barak. It would have been the same result even if Itzik Regev would have headed the Likud."
The Likud Central Committee is scheduled to convene this coming Thursday to decide whether or not to authorize Prime Minister Sharon to include Labor in the coalition. The proposal to be presented, as agreed upon today by the Likud's ministers and deputy ministers, reads as follows:
"Because a minority government comprised only of the Likud faction is currently ruling, and because a stable and broad coalition is necessary in order to prevent a possible deterioration to new elections, the Likud Committee supports the expansion of the coalition in a manner incorporating the Likud, Labor, and the religious factions. Shortly after this session, negotiations will begin with Labor, Shas and United Torah Judaism, with the aim of including them in the coalition."
The Committee decided this past August not to agree to Labor's inclusion, unless a religious party or two was also included. The situation today is different from at least two standpoints, however.
For one thing, Shinui is no longer in the coalition, such that a secular-left leaning government of Likud/Shinui/Labor is no longer an option.
In addition, many Central Committee members assume, in accordance with Sharon's declaration, that the only other alternative is new elections – which they do not want. "It's either Labor, or suicide," one member said. It is this approach that Landau, Stern and others wish to negate.
Health Minister Danny Naveh, too, another disengagement/expulsion opponent, said on Friday that he would rather have the Likud "renew our historic alliance with the religious parties," and not be beholden to Labor.
Many observers feel that Sharon's pro-Labor camp currently has the edge, but that it is still too close to call. Two camps of Labor-opponents exist within the Likud Central Committee: Those who object to the disengagement, and those who fear Labor's influence in the government, specifically in terms of the budget and possibly the Interior Ministry. At a gathering of nearly 1,000 supporters of Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz [pictured above] last night, speaker after speaker raised the demand for Katz to be awarded the Interior Ministry. Many Likud mayors are anxious for party control over this ministry in order to shore up their financially-faltering municipalities.
Stern admitted that there are some Likud members who would agree to Labor's inclusion in exchange for a Likud Interior Minister. "However," he said, "there are many within the Likud whose motivations are solely ideological. Witness the recent vote in which some 1,200 members, about 40%, voted for [disengagement opponent] Uzi Landau for Committee Chairman." Stern heads the Forum for Likud Values, a body associated with the 125-member Manhigut Yehudit [Jewish Leadership] faction.
Ariel Sharon has said that all future coalition partners must agree in advance to support the disengagement. This rules out Shas, and complicates matters for United Torah Judaism. However, Likud Central Committee member Aviad Visouly has submitted an alternative proposal for Thursday's session – and he threatens to take it to the Likud Court if it is not presented for a vote. Visouly proposes that the Committee authorize the coalition negotiators to deal only with parties that are opposed to the disengagement plan. This would rule out Labor, and pave the way for a right-wing coalition.
Another wrinkle was added by a "high-placed" UTJ figure, who said today that his party could not afford to join the government without Shas.
In any event, Prime Minister Sharon has refused to say whether he would honor whatever decision is reached by the Likud Central Committee. Asked by reporters last week if he would abide by the party's decision, the Prime Minister said Thursday, "I know how to handle things... I expect to win the vote."