Only 39 MKs voted for the referendum, while 72 voted against, with three abstentions by members of the United Torah Judaism party. Two Shinui MKs who are considered to have right-wing views - Modi Zandberg and Chemi Doron - did not take part in the vote.
The Shas Party's 11 MKs left the plenum for the first roll-call of votes. When it was clear that the law would not pass, based on the votes of the Likud MKs, the earlier directive by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to vote against the referendum took effect.
Labor Party chairman and Vice-Prime Minister Shimon Peres taunted proponents of the referendum by name, eliciting angry outbursts. Two Likud MKs, Michael Ratzon and Ayoub Kara, were ejected from the Knesset plenum.
“Israel has no other way,” Peres said. “You have no way! You don’t know how to protect Israel from Iran, from the intifada and from world opposition.”
Peres went on to say supporters of the referendum were "extremist and brazen," and, “You already know the public’s view from all the polls.”
“The majority is decided by elections, not polls,” said Likud MK Gilad Erdan, who was also threatened with removal from the Knesset hall.
Peres went on, raising his voice: “There are 7,000 settlers amongst millions of Palestinians – you all know they have no future there. You are killing them and turning the whole world against us. The only aim of the referendum is to prevent the disengagement…Let the nation go toward peace! Let them dismantle for the sake of our future!”
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) said he hoped Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would conduct the nation's policy based on reality, and not on Peres's vision of a 'New Middle East.'
With passage of the budget bill virtually a done deal, now that Shinui has decided to vote in favor - after receiving an allocation of NIS 700 million for projects amenable to its constituency - today's vote was the only chance left to topple the government and forestall the Gaza expulsion plan.
Shas Party political leader MK Eli Yishai announced yesterday that he would recommend to Rabbi Yosef that he support legislation to require holding a national referendum before the Gaza-Samaria expulsion plan can be carried out. In the end, however, Rabbi Yosef said that he would not do so unless he could be guaranteed that sufficient Likud MKs would vote for it to assure its passage.
While Shas’ eleven MKs are insufficient to carry the bill in the Knesset, expulsion opponents hoped they might encourage a number of Likud MKs to vote in favor of the bill.
In the event, six Likud ministers voted in favor of a referendum - in the knowledge that it would fail. These included Binyamin Netanyahu, Silvan Shalom, Limor Livnat, Yisrael Katz, Danny Naveh and Tzachi HaNegbi. These ministers are not part of the 13-MK Likud group headed by Uzi Landau, known as the Likud "loyalists," who had said in advance that they would vote in favor of a referendum. Landau’s bloc was formed to thwart implementation of the expulsion plan.
Binyamin Netanyahu met personally with Rabbi Yosef last week in an effort to convince him to vote in favor of the bill.
Earlier this week, Labor MKs threatened to bolt the coalition and force new elections if Likud ministers vote in favor of the legislation.
Sharon indirectly attacked Netanyahu at Sunday's cabinet meeting. Referring indirectly to Netanyahu’s meeting with the elderly rabbi, Sharon said, “Last week we saw an attempt [to topple the government]. It pains me that because of internal interests, political relations are being vandalized. Don’t be concerned about what’s happening outside the country, worry about what’s happening here. It seems that all restraints have been removed.” Sharon added: “We’re seeing again and again attempts to topple the government that keep returning with timing that is not coincidental.”
Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres attacked Netanyahu more directly: “If the referendum passes tomorrow, we’re notifying you now that we will resign immediately from the government.”
Labor Minister Chaim Ramon also bashed Netanyahu at the cabinet meeting, saying, “If even one Likud minister votes in favor of the referendum, Labor will leave the government immediately.”
Israeli singer Ariel Zilber who recently moved to Gush Katif to protest the disengagement donned sackcloth and ashes at Jerusalem's Western Wall to protest the government's actions. He spoke with Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz and Yishai Fleisher today. The interview can be heard by clicking here.
The Shas Party's 11 MKs left the plenum for the first roll-call of votes. When it was clear that the law would not pass, based on the votes of the Likud MKs, the earlier directive by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to vote against the referendum took effect.
Labor Party chairman and Vice-Prime Minister Shimon Peres taunted proponents of the referendum by name, eliciting angry outbursts. Two Likud MKs, Michael Ratzon and Ayoub Kara, were ejected from the Knesset plenum.
“Israel has no other way,” Peres said. “You have no way! You don’t know how to protect Israel from Iran, from the intifada and from world opposition.”
Peres went on to say supporters of the referendum were "extremist and brazen," and, “You already know the public’s view from all the polls.”
“The majority is decided by elections, not polls,” said Likud MK Gilad Erdan, who was also threatened with removal from the Knesset hall.
Peres went on, raising his voice: “There are 7,000 settlers amongst millions of Palestinians – you all know they have no future there. You are killing them and turning the whole world against us. The only aim of the referendum is to prevent the disengagement…Let the nation go toward peace! Let them dismantle for the sake of our future!”
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) said he hoped Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would conduct the nation's policy based on reality, and not on Peres's vision of a 'New Middle East.'
With passage of the budget bill virtually a done deal, now that Shinui has decided to vote in favor - after receiving an allocation of NIS 700 million for projects amenable to its constituency - today's vote was the only chance left to topple the government and forestall the Gaza expulsion plan.
Shas Party political leader MK Eli Yishai announced yesterday that he would recommend to Rabbi Yosef that he support legislation to require holding a national referendum before the Gaza-Samaria expulsion plan can be carried out. In the end, however, Rabbi Yosef said that he would not do so unless he could be guaranteed that sufficient Likud MKs would vote for it to assure its passage.
While Shas’ eleven MKs are insufficient to carry the bill in the Knesset, expulsion opponents hoped they might encourage a number of Likud MKs to vote in favor of the bill.
In the event, six Likud ministers voted in favor of a referendum - in the knowledge that it would fail. These included Binyamin Netanyahu, Silvan Shalom, Limor Livnat, Yisrael Katz, Danny Naveh and Tzachi HaNegbi. These ministers are not part of the 13-MK Likud group headed by Uzi Landau, known as the Likud "loyalists," who had said in advance that they would vote in favor of a referendum. Landau’s bloc was formed to thwart implementation of the expulsion plan.
Binyamin Netanyahu met personally with Rabbi Yosef last week in an effort to convince him to vote in favor of the bill.
Earlier this week, Labor MKs threatened to bolt the coalition and force new elections if Likud ministers vote in favor of the legislation.
Sharon indirectly attacked Netanyahu at Sunday's cabinet meeting. Referring indirectly to Netanyahu’s meeting with the elderly rabbi, Sharon said, “Last week we saw an attempt [to topple the government]. It pains me that because of internal interests, political relations are being vandalized. Don’t be concerned about what’s happening outside the country, worry about what’s happening here. It seems that all restraints have been removed.” Sharon added: “We’re seeing again and again attempts to topple the government that keep returning with timing that is not coincidental.”
Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres attacked Netanyahu more directly: “If the referendum passes tomorrow, we’re notifying you now that we will resign immediately from the government.”
Labor Minister Chaim Ramon also bashed Netanyahu at the cabinet meeting, saying, “If even one Likud minister votes in favor of the referendum, Labor will leave the government immediately.”
Israeli singer Ariel Zilber who recently moved to Gush Katif to protest the disengagement donned sackcloth and ashes at Jerusalem's Western Wall to protest the government's actions. He spoke with Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz and Yishai Fleisher today. The interview can be heard by clicking here.