Following the passage of the Disengagement Compensation Bill last week and the Cabinet vote on its implementation on Sunday, the actual process of emptying the 25 Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Shomron of their Jewish residents is scheduled to commence five months from now.
On March 2nd, The 3,000 member committee will vote on the idea of national plebiscite. If the body votes in favor of the referendum, the Likud’s 40 members of the Knesset will likely be obligated to draft a special referendum bill and vote in favor of the idea in the Knesset.
Such a bill would require that the disengagement plan not be implemented until a national referendum has been voted upon. The prime minister remains adamently opposed to any referendum on his controversial expulsion plan.
The grassroots organization "Cities of Israel" (COI) has begun an urgent campaign to urge Likud members to vote for the resolution in the upcoming meeting of the committee. COI spokesperson Susie Dym writes that the proposed Referendum Law in question "is intended as an antidote to the Disengagement Law. It stipulates, simply, that the Disengagement Law is suspended until such time as a referendum on the issue is held and passed."
According to Dym, a poll taken two weeks ago reveals that over 52 percent of the Israeli public, and more than 70 percent of Likud members support holding a referendum.
Currently, at least 26 Likud MKs and government ministers, have signed a petition calling for a referendum. These include many who are in favor of the uprooting, such as MKs Michael Eitan, Inbal Gavrieli and Yuval Shteinitz. Also on the list are Ruby Rivlin and Ministers Netanyahu, HaNegbi, Naveh, and Livnat.
Aides to the Prime Minister say Sharon would not obey the will of the Central Committee, and added that in any event there is no majority in the Knesset for a referendum.
At present, support for a referendum enjoys the support of less than one-third of the Knesset: National Union (6 MKs), NRP (6), and 26 Likud MKs. However, Likud MK's are hopeful that they can lure the Shas party's 11 MKs to support a referendum and ensure a Knesset majority.
"If Shas joins our cause, there will be a Knesset majority,” said Likud MK Michael Eitan. “True, Sharon is not bound by this, but if our party faction decides to impose party discipline, everyone will have to vote in favor, including even Sharon."
The Cities of Israel campaign is reminiscent of that waged by disengagement opponents during the Likud Party referendum last May. In a plea for support, Dym stated, "we urgently need people who are each willing to visit 10 Likud Central Committee members, and to urge them to vote for the resolution. This will obligate all Likud MKs to vote for the Referendum Law."
Individuals interested in visiting Central Committee members and explaining to them the importance of voting for the proposal are asked to
send an email specifying the location in which they are interested in working.
"We will rush you ten names from the city you choose and an explanation of what you should say to them," a COI statement says. "This is the most important single action to take at this time, and does not even require cooperation from Sharon," because even if he votes against, the necessary 61 member Knesset majority can still be attained.
This past summer, Cities of Israel together with the Gush Katif task force that organized the successful Human Chain from Gaza to Jerusalem.
Currently, the anti-expulsion strategy involves several steps:
* Garnering support among the Likud members and passing the referendum initiative in a Central Committee vote;
* Ensuring that the Likud Knesset faction sees itself as obligated by the above decision;
* Quickly formulating a Knesset bill that would make the disengagement contingent upon majority support in a one-time disengagement referendum;
* Secure a majority for the bill in the Knesset.
On March 2nd, The 3,000 member committee will vote on the idea of national plebiscite. If the body votes in favor of the referendum, the Likud’s 40 members of the Knesset will likely be obligated to draft a special referendum bill and vote in favor of the idea in the Knesset.
Such a bill would require that the disengagement plan not be implemented until a national referendum has been voted upon. The prime minister remains adamently opposed to any referendum on his controversial expulsion plan.
The grassroots organization "Cities of Israel" (COI) has begun an urgent campaign to urge Likud members to vote for the resolution in the upcoming meeting of the committee. COI spokesperson Susie Dym writes that the proposed Referendum Law in question "is intended as an antidote to the Disengagement Law. It stipulates, simply, that the Disengagement Law is suspended until such time as a referendum on the issue is held and passed."
According to Dym, a poll taken two weeks ago reveals that over 52 percent of the Israeli public, and more than 70 percent of Likud members support holding a referendum.
Currently, at least 26 Likud MKs and government ministers, have signed a petition calling for a referendum. These include many who are in favor of the uprooting, such as MKs Michael Eitan, Inbal Gavrieli and Yuval Shteinitz. Also on the list are Ruby Rivlin and Ministers Netanyahu, HaNegbi, Naveh, and Livnat.
Aides to the Prime Minister say Sharon would not obey the will of the Central Committee, and added that in any event there is no majority in the Knesset for a referendum.
At present, support for a referendum enjoys the support of less than one-third of the Knesset: National Union (6 MKs), NRP (6), and 26 Likud MKs. However, Likud MK's are hopeful that they can lure the Shas party's 11 MKs to support a referendum and ensure a Knesset majority.
"If Shas joins our cause, there will be a Knesset majority,” said Likud MK Michael Eitan. “True, Sharon is not bound by this, but if our party faction decides to impose party discipline, everyone will have to vote in favor, including even Sharon."
The Cities of Israel campaign is reminiscent of that waged by disengagement opponents during the Likud Party referendum last May. In a plea for support, Dym stated, "we urgently need people who are each willing to visit 10 Likud Central Committee members, and to urge them to vote for the resolution. This will obligate all Likud MKs to vote for the Referendum Law."
Individuals interested in visiting Central Committee members and explaining to them the importance of voting for the proposal are asked to
send an email specifying the location in which they are interested in working.
"We will rush you ten names from the city you choose and an explanation of what you should say to them," a COI statement says. "This is the most important single action to take at this time, and does not even require cooperation from Sharon," because even if he votes against, the necessary 61 member Knesset majority can still be attained.
This past summer, Cities of Israel together with the Gush Katif task force that organized the successful Human Chain from Gaza to Jerusalem.
Currently, the anti-expulsion strategy involves several steps:
* Garnering support among the Likud members and passing the referendum initiative in a Central Committee vote;
* Ensuring that the Likud Knesset faction sees itself as obligated by the above decision;
* Quickly formulating a Knesset bill that would make the disengagement contingent upon majority support in a one-time disengagement referendum;
* Secure a majority for the bill in the Knesset.