Limor’s support for early primaries is widely seen as a major boost for Sharon’s chief rival in the Likud party, MK Binyamin Netanyahu, who is challenging the prime minister for the party’s top post. Netanyahu has been working hard to advance the date of the primaries, believing that this will increase his chances of replacing Sharon as party head.
Livnat, who voted in favor of the Disengagement Plan, did not mention support for Netanyahu as the reason behind her decision to back early primaries. Citing "party interests,” Livnat said on Israel radio Sunday afternoon that early primaries were a “technical matter, not an ousting” of Sharon from his post.
Livnat said she had attempted to broker a compromise on the Likud Central Committee between Netanyahu and Sharon supporters, but failing that, came out in favor of early primaries as a means of strengthening the party ahead of the next general election.
The Likud Central Committee is scheduled to hold a vote on advancing the primaries on Monday. Israel’s next general election is scheduled for November 2006. But political turmoil following the country’s withdrawal from the Gaza strip and a deterioration of the security situation might prompt early elections, if Sharon’s fragile, but stable coalition begins to crumble.
Recent Arab aggressions stemming from the IDF withdrawal appear to be strengthening Netanyahu’s position for early primaries in the Central Committee. Over the weekend, the Negev town of Sderot was bombarded by dozens of Kassam missies fired from Gaza. Polls of Likud Central Committee members suggest that Netanyahu’s supporters will prevail by a small margin in Monday’s vote.
Netanyahu, who supported the Disengagement Plan in Sharon’s cabinet up to the last minute, resigned from his post as Finance Minister, just days before the plan was carried out. Netanyahu claimed that the disengagement was a strategic mistake that endangered Israel’s security interests.
The escalation of terror from Gaza has increased speculation that Netanyahu could garner the support of 61 Knesset members in an attempt to wrest control of the country from Sharon without resorting to early national elections. Under Israel’s parliamentary system, if a majority of the Knesset rallies around one of its members, that person could become prime minister, unseating the incumbent without scheduling a general election.
Such a scenario could conceivably arise if Sharon loses his battle in the Likud Central Committee to prevent early primaries. Some political analysts expect that in such a case, Sharon would bolt the Likud and set up his own left-of-center party, perhaps by joining forces with elements of the Labor and Shinui parties.
Interviewed on Channel 2 on Friday, Netanyahu said that "If Sharon leaves the Likud and tries to steal the Likud mandates to form a left wing party, I would prevent him from doing this."
Shas leader MK Eli Yishai, responding to speculation that Shas could be a major component of an alternative government formed by Netanyahu, said on the same program that "if Netanyahu is counting on me, he's mistaken. I'm not in anyone's pocket."
Livnat, who voted in favor of the Disengagement Plan, did not mention support for Netanyahu as the reason behind her decision to back early primaries. Citing "party interests,” Livnat said on Israel radio Sunday afternoon that early primaries were a “technical matter, not an ousting” of Sharon from his post.
Livnat said she had attempted to broker a compromise on the Likud Central Committee between Netanyahu and Sharon supporters, but failing that, came out in favor of early primaries as a means of strengthening the party ahead of the next general election.
The Likud Central Committee is scheduled to hold a vote on advancing the primaries on Monday. Israel’s next general election is scheduled for November 2006. But political turmoil following the country’s withdrawal from the Gaza strip and a deterioration of the security situation might prompt early elections, if Sharon’s fragile, but stable coalition begins to crumble.
Recent Arab aggressions stemming from the IDF withdrawal appear to be strengthening Netanyahu’s position for early primaries in the Central Committee. Over the weekend, the Negev town of Sderot was bombarded by dozens of Kassam missies fired from Gaza. Polls of Likud Central Committee members suggest that Netanyahu’s supporters will prevail by a small margin in Monday’s vote.
Netanyahu, who supported the Disengagement Plan in Sharon’s cabinet up to the last minute, resigned from his post as Finance Minister, just days before the plan was carried out. Netanyahu claimed that the disengagement was a strategic mistake that endangered Israel’s security interests.
The escalation of terror from Gaza has increased speculation that Netanyahu could garner the support of 61 Knesset members in an attempt to wrest control of the country from Sharon without resorting to early national elections. Under Israel’s parliamentary system, if a majority of the Knesset rallies around one of its members, that person could become prime minister, unseating the incumbent without scheduling a general election.
Such a scenario could conceivably arise if Sharon loses his battle in the Likud Central Committee to prevent early primaries. Some political analysts expect that in such a case, Sharon would bolt the Likud and set up his own left-of-center party, perhaps by joining forces with elements of the Labor and Shinui parties.
Interviewed on Channel 2 on Friday, Netanyahu said that "If Sharon leaves the Likud and tries to steal the Likud mandates to form a left wing party, I would prevent him from doing this."
Shas leader MK Eli Yishai, responding to speculation that Shas could be a major component of an alternative government formed by Netanyahu, said on the same program that "if Netanyahu is counting on me, he's mistaken. I'm not in anyone's pocket."