Sharon told cabinet ministers he wants to move up the Knesset vote on the first stage of his plan from the beginning of March to this month. Sharon said the expulsion would be carried out in four stages, but he also added he would delay the program for a "few weeks" if there is terrorist activity at the same time.
The Prime Minister further confused and angered ministers when he added that the cabinet will set a timetable for expulsion this month, but will meet again for a final approval two weeks before the actual withdrawal.
Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz replied that Sharon's demand contradicts the compromise he made with senior Likud cabinet ministers Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, Sylvan Shalom and Limor Livnat that no Knesset decision would be made before the entire program and timetable are spelled out.
Minister Natan Sharansky, who is not a Knesset member, doubted the prime minister's intentions. "You say on one hand there is a decision and that the evacuation will be executed, but you also say the decision will be made several weeks before [the evacuation]."
Sharon defended his new strategy, stating that Jewish residents in the 25 communities slated for destruction need several months notice before being evicted. Legal authorities have warned him that a shorter notice would be harder to defend in court appeals. Advisors also claim that parents have to know in the spring where they will be living in order to register their children for the following school year.
Likud Minister Shalom replied, "There is no significant difference from the standpoint of the school system whether [the vote] is in January or March."
The cabinet has approved Sharon's plan in principle, and the bill still awaits two readings in the Knesset, as well as approval for funding.
Gaza Coast Regional Council spokesman Eran Sternberg noted that Sharon's "running around" is not even understood by the leftists. "Sharon is getting closer and closer to his political end," Sternberg added.
The Prime Minister further confused and angered ministers when he added that the cabinet will set a timetable for expulsion this month, but will meet again for a final approval two weeks before the actual withdrawal.
Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz replied that Sharon's demand contradicts the compromise he made with senior Likud cabinet ministers Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, Sylvan Shalom and Limor Livnat that no Knesset decision would be made before the entire program and timetable are spelled out.
Minister Natan Sharansky, who is not a Knesset member, doubted the prime minister's intentions. "You say on one hand there is a decision and that the evacuation will be executed, but you also say the decision will be made several weeks before [the evacuation]."
Sharon defended his new strategy, stating that Jewish residents in the 25 communities slated for destruction need several months notice before being evicted. Legal authorities have warned him that a shorter notice would be harder to defend in court appeals. Advisors also claim that parents have to know in the spring where they will be living in order to register their children for the following school year.
Likud Minister Shalom replied, "There is no significant difference from the standpoint of the school system whether [the vote] is in January or March."
The cabinet has approved Sharon's plan in principle, and the bill still awaits two readings in the Knesset, as well as approval for funding.
Gaza Coast Regional Council spokesman Eran Sternberg noted that Sharon's "running around" is not even understood by the leftists. "Sharon is getting closer and closer to his political end," Sternberg added.