Following a stormy meeting of the Likud Knesset faction Monday afternoon and evening, an agreement between the two opposing camps was reached: Likud MKs on the Knesset Finance Committee must vote today in favor of the proposed budget or agree to be replaced by Sharon supporters. At the same time, MK Roni Bar-On must vote in Wednesday's Law Committee meeting in favor of holding a national referendum on the expulsion plan - or agree to be replaced. Bar-On, who is not anxious to give up his place on the Law Committee, said he will issue his decision sometime today.
The compromise agreement allows the budget bill to leave committee and reach the Knesset floor in time for a vote before the March 31 deadline, and also provides referendum supporters with an opportunity to attain a majority on the Constitutional Law Committee. If this majority is attained, the referendum bill will reach the Knesset floor for debate next week. The compromise does not guarantee passage for either bill - and in fact, at present, the referendum issue does not appear to have a Knesset majority.
On the other hand, Shas faction leader MK Eli Yishai left room for hope, saying this afternoon he would be willing to vote in favor of the referendum if he thought it could bring down the government. This is, in fact, a real possibility, as Labor has said that it would not remain in the government if a referendum were to be held. If Shas votes in favor, 36 Likud MKs - out of 40 - would have to vote in favor of a plebiscite, in accordance with the Likud Central Committee's desire, in order to provide a 61-MK majority.
The Likud's compromise proposal was voted on by the party's MKs in a 16-11 vote, with 13 abstentions. Prime Minister Sharon voted against.
The deep differences within the Likud led MK Gideon Saar to briefly resign as Likud faction whip yesterday, when PM Sharon did not accept the above compromise. When Sharon caved in, however, Saar withdrew his resignation.
Knesset Speaker MK Ruby Rivlin said that, for all intents and purposes, the Likud is already two different parties. Sharon, too, said that he does not see how the Likud will be able to field a united list in the coming election, when "I support the disengagement and you [plural] oppose it."
The core issue is the deep split within the Likud over the disengagement issue. Of the party's 40 MKs, 13-15 are outspokenly and actively against the expulsion, while several others, including ministers, are against it more quietly. The loyalists, as the group of 13-15 call themselves, are even planning to vote against the proposed national budget – placing the Likud government in direct danger. If the budget is not passed by March 31, the law mandates new elections by the end of June.
The immediate issue is the vote in the Knesset Finance Committee on the budget bill. Four of the Likud MKs in the committee – whose votes will determine whether the bill passes the committee or not – are disengagement-opponents, and said they would vote against the budget. When asked to explain the connection between a vote against the budget and their opposition to the disengagement, they said that this was their only way to convince the Prime Minister to agree to a referendum on the disengagement.
At Monday's stormy Likud Knesset faction meeting, Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, one of Sharon's most stalwart allies, proposed that the four Finance Committee MKs be replaced by other Likud MKs. This caused an uproar, with MK Michael Ratzon – who was fired by Sharon several months ago for voting against the disengagement in the Knesset – saying, "Such a move would be a blatant crossing of red lines and totally unacceptable, and we will respond in kind."
Ultimately, a compromise was proposed: The four MKs would be required to vote in favor of the budget in the committee, as per party discipline, while in this week's vote in the Knesset Law Committee, MK Roni Bar-on would be required to vote in favor of the referendum legislation.
Sharon turned down the proposal, and coalition whip Saar - a former Cabinet Secretary under both Prime Ministers Sharon and Netanyahu - announced in frustration that he was resigning. "For several nights," Saar said, "I have not slept well, because of this idea of firing the committee members. I am therefore resigning, and let someone else do it."
Sharon responded sardonically, "Yes, I noticed that you didn't look well since the morning. I request that you withdraw your remarks."
At this point, Education Minister Limor Livnat stepped in and warned Sharon that if he didn't change his mind, the Likud would fall apart.
Shortly afterwards, after a recess in the meeting, Sharon caved in and announced that MKs could vote their conscience in both the Law Committee and the Finance Committee without being replaced – and Saar withdrew his resignation. The compromise plan was then voted on, and was passed.
Many analysts agreed that what appeared to be a defeat for Sharon was actually not that, as he is now closer to passing the budget and retaining his government than he was before.
Several warnings were raised at the Likud faction meeting that the party is in danger of falling apart, with some MKs and ministers saying that the Likud could even lose the coming election. MK Naomi Blumental, a disengagement opponent, sought to allay the fears: "The public has no other options, they'll have to vote for us." Ze'ev Boim said, "In '91 we had 70% support, and shortly afterwards we lost the election." Minister Tzippy Livny: "At least tell the truth: You want to thwart the disengagement..." Michael Ratzon: "I would love to vote for the budget – but you leave us no choice."
Sharon sought to separate between the disengagement and the budget, saying that even those who oppose the former should vote for the latter. He also said that those who feel that they cannot vote the party line in the committees should resign of their own accord. The disengagement opponents, for their part, say that it is Sharon who is bucking the party line by promoting the plan that the Likud membership and Central Committee voted down.
The compromise agreement allows the budget bill to leave committee and reach the Knesset floor in time for a vote before the March 31 deadline, and also provides referendum supporters with an opportunity to attain a majority on the Constitutional Law Committee. If this majority is attained, the referendum bill will reach the Knesset floor for debate next week. The compromise does not guarantee passage for either bill - and in fact, at present, the referendum issue does not appear to have a Knesset majority.
On the other hand, Shas faction leader MK Eli Yishai left room for hope, saying this afternoon he would be willing to vote in favor of the referendum if he thought it could bring down the government. This is, in fact, a real possibility, as Labor has said that it would not remain in the government if a referendum were to be held. If Shas votes in favor, 36 Likud MKs - out of 40 - would have to vote in favor of a plebiscite, in accordance with the Likud Central Committee's desire, in order to provide a 61-MK majority.
The Likud's compromise proposal was voted on by the party's MKs in a 16-11 vote, with 13 abstentions. Prime Minister Sharon voted against.
The deep differences within the Likud led MK Gideon Saar to briefly resign as Likud faction whip yesterday, when PM Sharon did not accept the above compromise. When Sharon caved in, however, Saar withdrew his resignation.
Knesset Speaker MK Ruby Rivlin said that, for all intents and purposes, the Likud is already two different parties. Sharon, too, said that he does not see how the Likud will be able to field a united list in the coming election, when "I support the disengagement and you [plural] oppose it."
The core issue is the deep split within the Likud over the disengagement issue. Of the party's 40 MKs, 13-15 are outspokenly and actively against the expulsion, while several others, including ministers, are against it more quietly. The loyalists, as the group of 13-15 call themselves, are even planning to vote against the proposed national budget – placing the Likud government in direct danger. If the budget is not passed by March 31, the law mandates new elections by the end of June.
The immediate issue is the vote in the Knesset Finance Committee on the budget bill. Four of the Likud MKs in the committee – whose votes will determine whether the bill passes the committee or not – are disengagement-opponents, and said they would vote against the budget. When asked to explain the connection between a vote against the budget and their opposition to the disengagement, they said that this was their only way to convince the Prime Minister to agree to a referendum on the disengagement.
At Monday's stormy Likud Knesset faction meeting, Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, one of Sharon's most stalwart allies, proposed that the four Finance Committee MKs be replaced by other Likud MKs. This caused an uproar, with MK Michael Ratzon – who was fired by Sharon several months ago for voting against the disengagement in the Knesset – saying, "Such a move would be a blatant crossing of red lines and totally unacceptable, and we will respond in kind."
Ultimately, a compromise was proposed: The four MKs would be required to vote in favor of the budget in the committee, as per party discipline, while in this week's vote in the Knesset Law Committee, MK Roni Bar-on would be required to vote in favor of the referendum legislation.
Sharon turned down the proposal, and coalition whip Saar - a former Cabinet Secretary under both Prime Ministers Sharon and Netanyahu - announced in frustration that he was resigning. "For several nights," Saar said, "I have not slept well, because of this idea of firing the committee members. I am therefore resigning, and let someone else do it."
Sharon responded sardonically, "Yes, I noticed that you didn't look well since the morning. I request that you withdraw your remarks."
At this point, Education Minister Limor Livnat stepped in and warned Sharon that if he didn't change his mind, the Likud would fall apart.
Shortly afterwards, after a recess in the meeting, Sharon caved in and announced that MKs could vote their conscience in both the Law Committee and the Finance Committee without being replaced – and Saar withdrew his resignation. The compromise plan was then voted on, and was passed.
Many analysts agreed that what appeared to be a defeat for Sharon was actually not that, as he is now closer to passing the budget and retaining his government than he was before.
Several warnings were raised at the Likud faction meeting that the party is in danger of falling apart, with some MKs and ministers saying that the Likud could even lose the coming election. MK Naomi Blumental, a disengagement opponent, sought to allay the fears: "The public has no other options, they'll have to vote for us." Ze'ev Boim said, "In '91 we had 70% support, and shortly afterwards we lost the election." Minister Tzippy Livny: "At least tell the truth: You want to thwart the disengagement..." Michael Ratzon: "I would love to vote for the budget – but you leave us no choice."
Sharon sought to separate between the disengagement and the budget, saying that even those who oppose the former should vote for the latter. He also said that those who feel that they cannot vote the party line in the committees should resign of their own accord. The disengagement opponents, for their part, say that it is Sharon who is bucking the party line by promoting the plan that the Likud membership and Central Committee voted down.