The bill will be voted on in the Knesset next Monday. At present, its supporters in the Knesset do not enjoy a majority. They number 6 National Union MKs, 6 current and former MKs of the NRP, 2-5 from United Torah Judaism, and at least 26 from the Likud. If the Likud employs party discipline to vote for the plebiscite, in accordance with a recent Central Committee decision, and if Shas decides to vote in favor as well, the referendum bill will pass - over PM Sharon's strong objections.
This does not appear likely at present. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, decided this morning that his representative in the Law Committee, MK Nissim Ze'ev, would vote against the bill. Though Shas opposes the disengagement, and opposes the government in general, Rabbi Yosef fears that this bill could be used to hold a referendum on issues such as yeshiva students' army deferrals.
Shas political leader MK Eli Yishai said this morning, without enthusiasm, that this appears to be Rabbi Yosef's final ruling on the matter.
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, on the other hand, who is the religious authority for the other hareidi party, United Torah Judaism, ruled differently. He instructed MK Avraham Ravitz, UTJ's representative on the Law Committee, to vote in favor. The five MKs of UTJ, however, are divided into two factions, and it is not clear how they will all vote in the Knesset next week.
With Ze'ev and Ravitz canceling each other out, the deciding vote was placed by Likud MK Roni Bar'on. Bar'on opposes a referendum, but voted in favor – in accordance with a controversial compromise reached in the Likud two days ago. The compromise also stipulated that the disengagement opponents must vote in favor of the budget in the Finance Committee yesterday, which they did, as did a majority of the Committee members.
Likud MK Michael Eitan (pictured above), who chairs the Law Committee, supports the disengagement, but has waged a long struggle for over a year on behalf of a referendum on the issue.
In the debate preceding the vote, MK Michael Ratzon (Likud) said that those who oppose a referendum would lead to a civil war, while MK Yuli Tamir (Labor) said that a referendum would be a "mega-terror attack" against the disengagement.
This does not appear likely at present. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, decided this morning that his representative in the Law Committee, MK Nissim Ze'ev, would vote against the bill. Though Shas opposes the disengagement, and opposes the government in general, Rabbi Yosef fears that this bill could be used to hold a referendum on issues such as yeshiva students' army deferrals.
Shas political leader MK Eli Yishai said this morning, without enthusiasm, that this appears to be Rabbi Yosef's final ruling on the matter.
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, on the other hand, who is the religious authority for the other hareidi party, United Torah Judaism, ruled differently. He instructed MK Avraham Ravitz, UTJ's representative on the Law Committee, to vote in favor. The five MKs of UTJ, however, are divided into two factions, and it is not clear how they will all vote in the Knesset next week.
With Ze'ev and Ravitz canceling each other out, the deciding vote was placed by Likud MK Roni Bar'on. Bar'on opposes a referendum, but voted in favor – in accordance with a controversial compromise reached in the Likud two days ago. The compromise also stipulated that the disengagement opponents must vote in favor of the budget in the Finance Committee yesterday, which they did, as did a majority of the Committee members.
Likud MK Michael Eitan (pictured above), who chairs the Law Committee, supports the disengagement, but has waged a long struggle for over a year on behalf of a referendum on the issue.
In the debate preceding the vote, MK Michael Ratzon (Likud) said that those who oppose a referendum would lead to a civil war, while MK Yuli Tamir (Labor) said that a referendum would be a "mega-terror attack" against the disengagement.