Likud MK Michael Ratzon is one of the leaders of those in the Likud who object to the disengagement plan. He paid the price of his Deputy Ministerial post in the government for his opinions, when Prime Minister Sharon fired him last October after he voted against the disengagement. Now, following yesterday's passage of the Evacuation/Compensation Law governing the withdrawal, Ratzon told Arutz-7, "We won't give up the struggle against this plan, but it will now be fought on the public front. We will still push for a national referendum, and we will do anything that is within the framework of the law."
Asked whether he agrees with National Union MK Benny Elon's call for mass civil disobedience, Ratzon said, "I don't use that term. I use the term 'public struggle.'" Asked whether he would support road-blockings, Ratzon said, "I repeat: anything that's within the framework of the law is acceptable to me, but if it's outside that framework, then no."
Seventeen Likud MKs voted against the disengagement yesterday. The group is known as either the Likud "loyalists," for being loyal to the Likud party platform, or as the Likud "rebels," for not going along with PM Sharon's plan. Arutz-7's HF asked MK Ratzon: "How will you and the other Likud MKs who voted against the disengagement vote on the budget?"
Ratzon: "I can tell you that I will vote against. I believe that most of the group will do the same, because we did make a decision in principle to vote against the budget, but I think we will have another meeting on the topic beforehand."
A-7: "Do you see yourself running in the next election on a Likud list headed by Ariel Sharon, given the deep disagreements between the two of you?"
Ratzon: "I see myself running on the Likud list."
A-7: "And if Sharon heads the list?"
Ratzon: "If Sharon is chosen democratically to head the list, then too, I will run in the framework of the Likud."
A-7: "How will you be able to convince others to vote for the Likud and Ariel Sharon, given your deep disagreements with him?"
Ratzon: "I will promote the positions that I believe in... I think that most of the Likud agrees with me, and I think that in the end, our position will win out."
Asked whether he agrees with National Union MK Benny Elon's call for mass civil disobedience, Ratzon said, "I don't use that term. I use the term 'public struggle.'" Asked whether he would support road-blockings, Ratzon said, "I repeat: anything that's within the framework of the law is acceptable to me, but if it's outside that framework, then no."
Seventeen Likud MKs voted against the disengagement yesterday. The group is known as either the Likud "loyalists," for being loyal to the Likud party platform, or as the Likud "rebels," for not going along with PM Sharon's plan. Arutz-7's HF asked MK Ratzon: "How will you and the other Likud MKs who voted against the disengagement vote on the budget?"
Ratzon: "I can tell you that I will vote against. I believe that most of the group will do the same, because we did make a decision in principle to vote against the budget, but I think we will have another meeting on the topic beforehand."
A-7: "Do you see yourself running in the next election on a Likud list headed by Ariel Sharon, given the deep disagreements between the two of you?"
Ratzon: "I see myself running on the Likud list."
A-7: "And if Sharon heads the list?"
Ratzon: "If Sharon is chosen democratically to head the list, then too, I will run in the framework of the Likud."
A-7: "How will you be able to convince others to vote for the Likud and Ariel Sharon, given your deep disagreements with him?"
Ratzon: "I will promote the positions that I believe in... I think that most of the Likud agrees with me, and I think that in the end, our position will win out."