The 13 Likud MKs whose vote was in doubt refuse to accept Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement/expulsion plan. They voted as one against Sharon's new government on Monday night, but were somewhat divided regarding today's vote. After convening at noon, they decided to vote in favor of the budget, while warning Prime Minister Sharon that they will continue to pressure him to drop the disengagement plan - or hold a national referendum on it.
Two of the MKs, David Levy and Michael Ratzon, walked out of the plenum rather than vote in favor of the government's budget proposal.
One of the 13 later explained that it was made clear to them that if they would vote against, Shas was waiting in the wings to vote in favor - "and so what would we gain? And even if we would defeat the budget, the government would not fall as a result - so it's better to save our strength, remain united, and hope to topple him later."
Five of the MKs – Leah Ness, Ehud Yatom, Gilad Erdan, Chaim Katz and Yesha representative Yechiel Chazan – said already yesterday they would not vote against the budget. They said that their beef is with the disengagement, not with Israel's economy.
Others said that the two go hand in hand. MK Michael Ratzon, who has paid one of
the heaviest prices for his opposition to the disengagement – Sharon fired him from his Deputy Minister post after he voted against the plan – said last night, "The Prime Minister must talk with us, otherwise we will do everything to prevent the disengagement."
Amnon Lord, the editor of the weekly Makor Rishon newspaper, said this morning that Sharon is leading to a "crumbling" of the Likud Party. "There is no doubt that the Likud voters did not vote for Labor's Dalia Itzik to be part of the security cabinet," Lord said, "or for Ophir Pines-Paz as Interior Minister," implying that many of them will not vote for the Likud in the next elections.
Speaking with Arutz-7's Amatzia HaEitan, MK Ratzon said, "It could very well be that all of us will abstain in this vote, but it should be clear to Sharon: we can topple him at any time, including on the next readings of the budget."
Ratzon said that until now, Sharon has not engaged in serious dialogue with the group of 13. "He keeps sending these nice emissaries to speak with us, but they can't make decisions."
Ratzon had harsh criticism of the Prime Minister: "He is prostituting Israeli politics. You can hear it in his speeches in the Knesset and in the Likud Knesset faction. It is a shame and disgrace how the MKs and he 'butter up' to each other... The Likud Central Committee approved Labor's entry into the government, but did not agree that Sharon make a party's entry solely conditional on whether it supports the disengagement. The Committee members voted for negotiations without preconditions. The majority of the Committee is against the disengagement."
Six weeks ago, the budget was set before the Knesset, and the coalition suffered an embarrassing loss, largely due to the sudden defection of the Shinui Party. Shinui's MKs said they objected to the 290 million shekels earmarked for the hareidi religious United Torah Judaism party.
Two of the MKs, David Levy and Michael Ratzon, walked out of the plenum rather than vote in favor of the government's budget proposal.
One of the 13 later explained that it was made clear to them that if they would vote against, Shas was waiting in the wings to vote in favor - "and so what would we gain? And even if we would defeat the budget, the government would not fall as a result - so it's better to save our strength, remain united, and hope to topple him later."
Five of the MKs – Leah Ness, Ehud Yatom, Gilad Erdan, Chaim Katz and Yesha representative Yechiel Chazan – said already yesterday they would not vote against the budget. They said that their beef is with the disengagement, not with Israel's economy.
Others said that the two go hand in hand. MK Michael Ratzon, who has paid one of
Michael Ratzon
Amnon Lord, the editor of the weekly Makor Rishon newspaper, said this morning that Sharon is leading to a "crumbling" of the Likud Party. "There is no doubt that the Likud voters did not vote for Labor's Dalia Itzik to be part of the security cabinet," Lord said, "or for Ophir Pines-Paz as Interior Minister," implying that many of them will not vote for the Likud in the next elections.
Speaking with Arutz-7's Amatzia HaEitan, MK Ratzon said, "It could very well be that all of us will abstain in this vote, but it should be clear to Sharon: we can topple him at any time, including on the next readings of the budget."
Ratzon said that until now, Sharon has not engaged in serious dialogue with the group of 13. "He keeps sending these nice emissaries to speak with us, but they can't make decisions."
Ratzon had harsh criticism of the Prime Minister: "He is prostituting Israeli politics. You can hear it in his speeches in the Knesset and in the Likud Knesset faction. It is a shame and disgrace how the MKs and he 'butter up' to each other... The Likud Central Committee approved Labor's entry into the government, but did not agree that Sharon make a party's entry solely conditional on whether it supports the disengagement. The Committee members voted for negotiations without preconditions. The majority of the Committee is against the disengagement."
Six weeks ago, the budget was set before the Knesset, and the coalition suffered an embarrassing loss, largely due to the sudden defection of the Shinui Party. Shinui's MKs said they objected to the 290 million shekels earmarked for the hareidi religious United Torah Judaism party.