MK Avraham Ravitz (Degel HaTorah) intimated last week that he would support a referendum – and today announced that Rabbi Elyashiv had in fact issued a ruling to this effect.
The decision is yet another setback for Prime Minister Sharon's oft-stated position against a referendum. He has said that the purpose of such a vote is merely to stave off the disengagement. Sharon is determined to carry out his plan to dismantle 25 Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Samaria, expel the residents, destroy their homes and leave their land for the Arabs.
Supporters of the plebisicite say that it could defuse some of the tensions in the nation that are threatening to lead even to civil war. Many disengagement opponents say they would accept the results of a referendum.
Support for a plebiscite of this nature is growing, and even within the Likud, opinions are divided. Likud MK Michael Eitan, Chairman of the Knesset Law Committee, wishes to insert a referendum clause into the Evacuation/Compensation Law currently under consideration.
In addition, the required hundreds of signatures have been collected to require the Likud Central Committee to vote on whether or not to support a referendum call. Supporters feel they have a good chance of winning.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was pleased with Rabbi Elyashiv's decision, while left-wing MKs decried the intervention of rabbinic leaders in Israel's political process.
The Shas Party is still opposed to a referendum, but supporters say the final word has not yet been spoken there - especially in light of Rabbi Elyashiv's decision.
Leading disengagement opponent MK Tzvi Hendel said today, "Just as a person in danger of his life may be fed non-kosher meat in order to save his life, so too, we may use the tool of a referendum in order to save Gush Katif."
MK Ravitz said he is not concerned that a referendum may become a precedent for similar votes on questions such as army service deferrals for yeshiva students. "The proposal is for a Basic Law to be legislated that will stipulate clearly that referenda be held only on issues of ceding parts of the Land of Israel," Ravitz said, "and not on issues of religion and state or other questions."
MK Ravitz also delivered another blow to Prime Minister Sharon today when he announced that he was quitting the coalition - just a month after his 5-MK United Torah Judaism party joined the coalition. He explained that he was quitting because the Likud had not fulfilled its coalition promise to revoke the 15% cut to hareidi-religious nurseries and kindergartens:
"This was supposed to be fixed a long time ago, according to all concerned. Even Sharon got upset at this Education Ministry caprice. So I used this issue as a test of their [the Likud's] intentions. I saw that nothing happened, so I said I'm quitting. They begged me to remain for another three days. I did, and nothing happened. Now I have quit."
Ravitz said, however, that he would fulfill his promise to vote in favor of the budget. He also said that he had apologized to his party colleague MK Moshe Gafni for not having informed him earlier of his decision.
The decision is yet another setback for Prime Minister Sharon's oft-stated position against a referendum. He has said that the purpose of such a vote is merely to stave off the disengagement. Sharon is determined to carry out his plan to dismantle 25 Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Samaria, expel the residents, destroy their homes and leave their land for the Arabs.
Supporters of the plebisicite say that it could defuse some of the tensions in the nation that are threatening to lead even to civil war. Many disengagement opponents say they would accept the results of a referendum.
Support for a plebiscite of this nature is growing, and even within the Likud, opinions are divided. Likud MK Michael Eitan, Chairman of the Knesset Law Committee, wishes to insert a referendum clause into the Evacuation/Compensation Law currently under consideration.
In addition, the required hundreds of signatures have been collected to require the Likud Central Committee to vote on whether or not to support a referendum call. Supporters feel they have a good chance of winning.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was pleased with Rabbi Elyashiv's decision, while left-wing MKs decried the intervention of rabbinic leaders in Israel's political process.
The Shas Party is still opposed to a referendum, but supporters say the final word has not yet been spoken there - especially in light of Rabbi Elyashiv's decision.
Leading disengagement opponent MK Tzvi Hendel said today, "Just as a person in danger of his life may be fed non-kosher meat in order to save his life, so too, we may use the tool of a referendum in order to save Gush Katif."
MK Ravitz said he is not concerned that a referendum may become a precedent for similar votes on questions such as army service deferrals for yeshiva students. "The proposal is for a Basic Law to be legislated that will stipulate clearly that referenda be held only on issues of ceding parts of the Land of Israel," Ravitz said, "and not on issues of religion and state or other questions."
MK Ravitz also delivered another blow to Prime Minister Sharon today when he announced that he was quitting the coalition - just a month after his 5-MK United Torah Judaism party joined the coalition. He explained that he was quitting because the Likud had not fulfilled its coalition promise to revoke the 15% cut to hareidi-religious nurseries and kindergartens:
"This was supposed to be fixed a long time ago, according to all concerned. Even Sharon got upset at this Education Ministry caprice. So I used this issue as a test of their [the Likud's] intentions. I saw that nothing happened, so I said I'm quitting. They begged me to remain for another three days. I did, and nothing happened. Now I have quit."
Ravitz said, however, that he would fulfill his promise to vote in favor of the budget. He also said that he had apologized to his party colleague MK Moshe Gafni for not having informed him earlier of his decision.