Likud MK Chaim Katz is one of the Likud "loyalists" who object to the disengagement; the Prime Minister's camp and much of the media refer to his group as "rebels." Explaining the increasingly-strong drive for a national referendum on the issue, Katz told Arutz-7 today,
"I anticipate that Sharon will think again and say, 'I've made a mistake, and let's see what the nation says about this plan – if only to keep our army in the consensus.' Today we hear about 10,000 or 20,000 people who say they will refuse to carry out disengagement orders. He should say, 'OK, we'll have a quick referendum, and at worst, we'll miss the target date by a month.'"
"We see that he does not have a majority," Katz said. "We just saw how the compensation bill barely passed the Finance Committee, by the margin of just one vote by Arab MK Barakeh. Not just any vote, but a Barakeh vote. I have nothing against Arab MKs – but only if they represent the Arabs of Israel, if they work for their benefit in terms of education, infrastructures, and the like. But these MKs don't represent these Arabs - they represent the Palestinians; they applaud terror attacks against us..."
MK Katz said he did not sign yesterday's letter that was disseminated among the 13 "loyalists," in which group members threatened to vote against the 2005 national budget if Sharon does not agree to hold a referendum. Katz explained that he is not necessarily against the idea, but that it must be made in an official forum of the group, and not by individual MKs.
In the meantime, Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin met with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom yesterday, and the two discussed ways to convince the Prime Minister to hold a referendum on the disengagement question. Support for the idea is catching on in many circles, but so far, Sharon is not budging. He said again last night that he will not agree to a plebiscite and will not allow the withdrawal to be pushed off. Likud coalition whip MK Gideon Saar said this morning that a referendum would delay the withdrawal by only two months (if the populace approves the plan).
Another surprise supporter of a referendum is Orna Shimoni, a founder of the Four Mothers movement that helped bring about the IDF's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. In an op-ed for the Ynet Hebrew news site entitled, "Listen to the Settlers," Shimoni writes that Israeli society is not paying enough attention to the Yesha residents' pleas for a referendum "that could prevent civil war."
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Shimoni explained that though she has long been in favor of withdrawing from Arab-populated areas, it should be done by national consensus: "I believe that specifically today, after we have reached dialogue with our enemies – our former enemies, I hope – aren't we able to have peace amongst ourselves, with our brothers, as well? They sincerely believe that they have been tricked, voting for someone who built their communities and then takes the opposite road..."
"The danger of a civil war is very critical," Shimoni said, "and that's what I'm worried about. In my Ynet article, I was attacked by some who said that the settlers are not our brothers – and in response, I say that one doesn't choose his brothers; they are Jews, and we are Jews, and together in our State of Israel we will decide our future... Specifically now, when there is a clear majority in favor of the move to withdraw from these areas, now is the time to hear the cry of the settlers, and to agree to a referendum... Similarly in Judea and Samaria, and in the Golan, if there are peace agreements that are likely to bring about the painful demolition of more communities – another referendum will be required."
She said that only issues involving the uprooting of communities should be put up for a referendum. Asked what would happen if the right-wing wins the vote, she said she is not worried about such an eventuality.
"I anticipate that Sharon will think again and say, 'I've made a mistake, and let's see what the nation says about this plan – if only to keep our army in the consensus.' Today we hear about 10,000 or 20,000 people who say they will refuse to carry out disengagement orders. He should say, 'OK, we'll have a quick referendum, and at worst, we'll miss the target date by a month.'"
"We see that he does not have a majority," Katz said. "We just saw how the compensation bill barely passed the Finance Committee, by the margin of just one vote by Arab MK Barakeh. Not just any vote, but a Barakeh vote. I have nothing against Arab MKs – but only if they represent the Arabs of Israel, if they work for their benefit in terms of education, infrastructures, and the like. But these MKs don't represent these Arabs - they represent the Palestinians; they applaud terror attacks against us..."
MK Katz said he did not sign yesterday's letter that was disseminated among the 13 "loyalists," in which group members threatened to vote against the 2005 national budget if Sharon does not agree to hold a referendum. Katz explained that he is not necessarily against the idea, but that it must be made in an official forum of the group, and not by individual MKs.
In the meantime, Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin met with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom yesterday, and the two discussed ways to convince the Prime Minister to hold a referendum on the disengagement question. Support for the idea is catching on in many circles, but so far, Sharon is not budging. He said again last night that he will not agree to a plebiscite and will not allow the withdrawal to be pushed off. Likud coalition whip MK Gideon Saar said this morning that a referendum would delay the withdrawal by only two months (if the populace approves the plan).
Another surprise supporter of a referendum is Orna Shimoni, a founder of the Four Mothers movement that helped bring about the IDF's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. In an op-ed for the Ynet Hebrew news site entitled, "Listen to the Settlers," Shimoni writes that Israeli society is not paying enough attention to the Yesha residents' pleas for a referendum "that could prevent civil war."
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Shimoni explained that though she has long been in favor of withdrawing from Arab-populated areas, it should be done by national consensus: "I believe that specifically today, after we have reached dialogue with our enemies – our former enemies, I hope – aren't we able to have peace amongst ourselves, with our brothers, as well? They sincerely believe that they have been tricked, voting for someone who built their communities and then takes the opposite road..."
"The danger of a civil war is very critical," Shimoni said, "and that's what I'm worried about. In my Ynet article, I was attacked by some who said that the settlers are not our brothers – and in response, I say that one doesn't choose his brothers; they are Jews, and we are Jews, and together in our State of Israel we will decide our future... Specifically now, when there is a clear majority in favor of the move to withdraw from these areas, now is the time to hear the cry of the settlers, and to agree to a referendum... Similarly in Judea and Samaria, and in the Golan, if there are peace agreements that are likely to bring about the painful demolition of more communities – another referendum will be required."
She said that only issues involving the uprooting of communities should be put up for a referendum. Asked what would happen if the right-wing wins the vote, she said she is not worried about such an eventuality.