Opponents of Prime Minister Sharon's expulsion/transfer plan within the Likud have renewed their efforts, and say they will not support a Likud-Labor government. Thirteen such MKs have signed a petition to this effect. A copy of the petition has been given to the UTJ Knesset faction, as a form of pressure upon them not to join the coalition.
The leader of the anti-withdrawal camp in the Likud, former Minister and current MK Uzi Landau, notes that the party's Central Committee approved the entry of Labor into the government together with the entry of a religious party.
The 5-man UTJ faction is divided on whether to join the government, with Litzman, Eichler and Gafni in favor, and Ravitz and Porush against. UTJ Knesset Member Yaakov Litzman, who strongly supports his party's joining the government, said that the Likud petition will make no difference.
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked UTJ MK Meir Porush, an opponent of the withdrawal, "If your party enters the government, it essentially paves the way for the disengagement. Is this something that the rabbis of your party can consider?"
MK Porush – son of former MK Rabbi Menachem Porush and grandson of the late Rabbi Moshe Porush, both leaders of the Agudat Yisrael movement in the Land of Israel - answered, "It's clear that I'm considered the party's right-wing marker - or let's say, one who loves the Land of Israel very much. But in the end, I am committed to accepting whatever ruling the rabbis of our party hand down. In the end, after all the negotiations, they will be the ones to decide whether our entry actually 'makes' the government, or whether we are just joining an existing government. The will also decide whether we enter the government, and if so, under what conditions."
At present, the Likud is not responding to UTJ coalition demands, namely, educational independence for the hareidi school systems, and the strengthening of public religious services.
The Chabad-Lubavitch sector is strongly pressuring its one-time "parent" party, United Torah Judaism, not to join the Sharon government. An editorial in the most recent Chabad weekly Torah sheet called on UTJ "not to give a kosher certification to the Sharon government. It's exactly what he needs - religious and hareidi approval for his great deception. The representatives of the Torah world have a very great responsibility upon them."
The leader of the anti-withdrawal camp in the Likud, former Minister and current MK Uzi Landau, notes that the party's Central Committee approved the entry of Labor into the government together with the entry of a religious party.
The 5-man UTJ faction is divided on whether to join the government, with Litzman, Eichler and Gafni in favor, and Ravitz and Porush against. UTJ Knesset Member Yaakov Litzman, who strongly supports his party's joining the government, said that the Likud petition will make no difference.
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked UTJ MK Meir Porush, an opponent of the withdrawal, "If your party enters the government, it essentially paves the way for the disengagement. Is this something that the rabbis of your party can consider?"
MK Porush – son of former MK Rabbi Menachem Porush and grandson of the late Rabbi Moshe Porush, both leaders of the Agudat Yisrael movement in the Land of Israel - answered, "It's clear that I'm considered the party's right-wing marker - or let's say, one who loves the Land of Israel very much. But in the end, I am committed to accepting whatever ruling the rabbis of our party hand down. In the end, after all the negotiations, they will be the ones to decide whether our entry actually 'makes' the government, or whether we are just joining an existing government. The will also decide whether we enter the government, and if so, under what conditions."
At present, the Likud is not responding to UTJ coalition demands, namely, educational independence for the hareidi school systems, and the strengthening of public religious services.
The Chabad-Lubavitch sector is strongly pressuring its one-time "parent" party, United Torah Judaism, not to join the Sharon government. An editorial in the most recent Chabad weekly Torah sheet called on UTJ "not to give a kosher certification to the Sharon government. It's exactly what he needs - religious and hareidi approval for his great deception. The representatives of the Torah world have a very great responsibility upon them."