Appearing on Nissim Mishal's popular television interview show last night, Shalom said he would lead a public and political drive to conduct a plebiscite on Prime Minister Sharon's evacuation/expulsion plan. He will try to promote the idea within the Likud as well, and the required amount of signatures has in fact been garnered to have the proposal brought up for a Likud Central Committee vote.
The 13 Likud "loyalists" - those who oppose the disengagement plan and are called "rebels" by Sharon camp and the media - have begun their own initiative. They threaten to vote against the government's budget proposal if Sharon does not call a referendum. If the budget is not passed by March 31, new elections must be held.
Even among those who favor Sharon's plan to abandon Gush Katif and northern Shomron, many feel that a referendum will serve to defuse the tremendous societal tensions surrounding the program and its scheduled implementation this summer.
Minister Shalom has voted for the disengagement plan in the various Knesset and Cabinet votes, but it is widely accepted that he does not like it.
Sources close to the Prime Minister say that Shalom has ulterior motives in jumping on the referendum wagon so publicly. They say he was miffed at not having been invited to accompany Mr. Sharon to the summit in Sharm a-Sheikh. Sharon arrived in Sharm a-Sheikh accompanied by no top officials; only his senior top aide Dov Weisglass was there with him.
Minister Shalom told Mishal last night that a referendum is critical to prevent a split in the country and grant public legitimacy to the controversial program. He emphasized that a plebiscite could prevent violence: "I don't want to see one baby or one soldier killed during the uprooting." He acknowledged that the vote could take place only if the Prime Minister agrees.
At present, the referendum initiative does not enjoy a majority in the Knesset. Fewer than 30 MKs are currently certain to support the idea – 6 from the National Union, 5 of the NRP, 2 from United Torah Judaism, and the Likud "loyalists," those who oppose the disengagement plan.
Some analysts feel that though a referendum appears to be a long-shot, Sharon might call new elections as a way of seeking a public mandate for his policies. These would take place within three months, without putting the disengagement program on hold.
Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said in response to Shalom's initiative: "I don't see it happening. It will take a year, and how will Sharon be able to explain the delay to the whole world?"
Gush Etzion Regional Head Sha'ul Goldstein said this morning, "Support for a referendum crosses party and political lines. The Prime Minister, for some reason is afraid, and is running away from it... He knows that the nation is not in favor of his plan."
The 13 Likud "loyalists" - those who oppose the disengagement plan and are called "rebels" by Sharon camp and the media - have begun their own initiative. They threaten to vote against the government's budget proposal if Sharon does not call a referendum. If the budget is not passed by March 31, new elections must be held.
Even among those who favor Sharon's plan to abandon Gush Katif and northern Shomron, many feel that a referendum will serve to defuse the tremendous societal tensions surrounding the program and its scheduled implementation this summer.
Minister Shalom has voted for the disengagement plan in the various Knesset and Cabinet votes, but it is widely accepted that he does not like it.
Sources close to the Prime Minister say that Shalom has ulterior motives in jumping on the referendum wagon so publicly. They say he was miffed at not having been invited to accompany Mr. Sharon to the summit in Sharm a-Sheikh. Sharon arrived in Sharm a-Sheikh accompanied by no top officials; only his senior top aide Dov Weisglass was there with him.
Minister Shalom told Mishal last night that a referendum is critical to prevent a split in the country and grant public legitimacy to the controversial program. He emphasized that a plebiscite could prevent violence: "I don't want to see one baby or one soldier killed during the uprooting." He acknowledged that the vote could take place only if the Prime Minister agrees.
At present, the referendum initiative does not enjoy a majority in the Knesset. Fewer than 30 MKs are currently certain to support the idea – 6 from the National Union, 5 of the NRP, 2 from United Torah Judaism, and the Likud "loyalists," those who oppose the disengagement plan.
Some analysts feel that though a referendum appears to be a long-shot, Sharon might call new elections as a way of seeking a public mandate for his policies. These would take place within three months, without putting the disengagement program on hold.
Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said in response to Shalom's initiative: "I don't see it happening. It will take a year, and how will Sharon be able to explain the delay to the whole world?"
Gush Etzion Regional Head Sha'ul Goldstein said this morning, "Support for a referendum crosses party and political lines. The Prime Minister, for some reason is afraid, and is running away from it... He knows that the nation is not in favor of his plan."