The law states that even if the Prime Minister wishes to dissolve the Knesset and call new elections, he cannot do so unless the Knesset agrees. Only if it becomes clear to President Moshe Katzav, who is authorized to make the final decision on this matter, that there is no other Knesset Member who can form a government, will early elections be called.
Given that Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is waiting in the wings, it cannot be ruled out that he will "volunteer" to form a new government in the event that Sharon cannot.
Another possible prime ministerial candidate if Sharon is forced to give up is Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. Either he or Netanyahu, if tapped to do so, is likely to form a right-wing/religious coalition that would not implement the disengagement.
It has in fact been rumored that "leading Likud elements not connected with the anti-disengagement camp" – many see this as a dictionary definition of any combination of Ministers Netanyahu, Shalom and Livnat – have been in contact with United Torah Judaism members in an effort to convince them not to join Sharon's coalition. Netanyahu has denied these reports.
Some rumors from the United Torah Judaism camp have it that the party demands not only independence for its hareidi school system as the price for its entry into the coalition, but the replacement of Sharon himself with another Likud minister, such as Netanyahu or Shalom. Many in the Likud would be happy to go this route, as it would avoid the need for new elections, and is also likely to prevent the disengagement.
Given that Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is waiting in the wings, it cannot be ruled out that he will "volunteer" to form a new government in the event that Sharon cannot.
Another possible prime ministerial candidate if Sharon is forced to give up is Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. Either he or Netanyahu, if tapped to do so, is likely to form a right-wing/religious coalition that would not implement the disengagement.
It has in fact been rumored that "leading Likud elements not connected with the anti-disengagement camp" – many see this as a dictionary definition of any combination of Ministers Netanyahu, Shalom and Livnat – have been in contact with United Torah Judaism members in an effort to convince them not to join Sharon's coalition. Netanyahu has denied these reports.
Some rumors from the United Torah Judaism camp have it that the party demands not only independence for its hareidi school system as the price for its entry into the coalition, but the replacement of Sharon himself with another Likud minister, such as Netanyahu or Shalom. Many in the Likud would be happy to go this route, as it would avoid the need for new elections, and is also likely to prevent the disengagement.