MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union) plans to submit a bill for the dissolution of the Knesset this Wednesday, and Labor Party leader Amir Peretz says he wants his party to vote for it. Prime Minister Sharon has said that any Cabinet minister who votes in favor will be fired forthwith - leading Labor leaders to say they would resign beforehand. In either event, this would mean the end of the government.
Though Peretz has announced that he will continue his efforts to lead his party out of the government coalition, opinion in Labor is divided regarding this idea. Some ministers, such as Shimon Peres and Matan Vilnai, feel that the issue must be discussed in a more measured manner, and that there is no rush to leave. Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, on the other hand, has come out in favor of Peretz's initiative.
The Labor Party Knesset faction will convene tomorrow to decide its stance.
Within the Likud Party, some are saying that the oft-postponed political fight between Ariel Sharon and Binyamin Netanyahu ought to be put off once again. Ynet reports that "senior Likud figures" are promoting a plan according to which Netanyahu would forego his race against Sharon for party leadership. In exchange, Netanyahu would be guaranteed the second slot on the list of candidates, without his having to run at all. Sharon would also have to agree to present all future diplomatic initiatives in a national or party referendum - and would ostensibly also have to agree to abide by the results. It is widely recalled that Sharon promised to adhere to the will of the party regarding the disengagement, but then proceeded to ignore the 60%-40% margin that rejected it.
The logic behind the initiative is that a Netanyahu-Peretz race for Prime Minister would likely send many voters to the Peretz camp, given the disenchantment with ex-Finance Minister Netanyahu's economic policies among the lower socio-economic classes. Peretz stands for more socialist policies, and he and Netanyahu have clashed in the past more than once on these issues. Sharon, on the other hand, is not as identified with his government's budget-cutting policies as is Netanyahu.
Within the religious-Zionist camp, contacts between the National Religious Party and the National Union continue, exploring the option of a merger between the two. NRP leader recently poured cold water on the idea, announcing that merely "finding job opportunities" for the MKs is not sufficient. MK Tzvi Hendel expressed surprise at Orlev's response, saying that the two parties had already come to some agreements, "including saving the position of Education Minister for the NRP." Hendel said that the religious-Zionist public demands unity, and that whoever torpedoes such an idea must resign.
In the meanwhile, the National Union party has formulated the structure of its list of candidates for the coming election. Places numbered 1, 6, 9 and 10 will be reserved for Moledet - leading, presumably, with Benny Elon and Aryeh Eldad; 2, 5, 8, and 11 will go to Tekumah - leading with Hendel and Uri Ariel; and slots numbered 3, 4, 7 and 12 will go to the newcomer Religious Zionist Renewal party, with Effie Eitam and Yitzchak Levy.
Eldad, however, says he will "not be #6 on the list." Though aware that this could imply that he will resign rather than be relegated to that spot, he did not elaborate. Eldad did say, however, that he believes there should be party primaries to determine the placement of the various candidates.
Though Peretz has announced that he will continue his efforts to lead his party out of the government coalition, opinion in Labor is divided regarding this idea. Some ministers, such as Shimon Peres and Matan Vilnai, feel that the issue must be discussed in a more measured manner, and that there is no rush to leave. Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, on the other hand, has come out in favor of Peretz's initiative.
The Labor Party Knesset faction will convene tomorrow to decide its stance.
Within the Likud Party, some are saying that the oft-postponed political fight between Ariel Sharon and Binyamin Netanyahu ought to be put off once again. Ynet reports that "senior Likud figures" are promoting a plan according to which Netanyahu would forego his race against Sharon for party leadership. In exchange, Netanyahu would be guaranteed the second slot on the list of candidates, without his having to run at all. Sharon would also have to agree to present all future diplomatic initiatives in a national or party referendum - and would ostensibly also have to agree to abide by the results. It is widely recalled that Sharon promised to adhere to the will of the party regarding the disengagement, but then proceeded to ignore the 60%-40% margin that rejected it.
The logic behind the initiative is that a Netanyahu-Peretz race for Prime Minister would likely send many voters to the Peretz camp, given the disenchantment with ex-Finance Minister Netanyahu's economic policies among the lower socio-economic classes. Peretz stands for more socialist policies, and he and Netanyahu have clashed in the past more than once on these issues. Sharon, on the other hand, is not as identified with his government's budget-cutting policies as is Netanyahu.
Within the religious-Zionist camp, contacts between the National Religious Party and the National Union continue, exploring the option of a merger between the two. NRP leader recently poured cold water on the idea, announcing that merely "finding job opportunities" for the MKs is not sufficient. MK Tzvi Hendel expressed surprise at Orlev's response, saying that the two parties had already come to some agreements, "including saving the position of Education Minister for the NRP." Hendel said that the religious-Zionist public demands unity, and that whoever torpedoes such an idea must resign.
In the meanwhile, the National Union party has formulated the structure of its list of candidates for the coming election. Places numbered 1, 6, 9 and 10 will be reserved for Moledet - leading, presumably, with Benny Elon and Aryeh Eldad; 2, 5, 8, and 11 will go to Tekumah - leading with Hendel and Uri Ariel; and slots numbered 3, 4, 7 and 12 will go to the newcomer Religious Zionist Renewal party, with Effie Eitam and Yitzchak Levy.
Eldad, however, says he will "not be #6 on the list." Though aware that this could imply that he will resign rather than be relegated to that spot, he did not elaborate. Eldad did say, however, that he believes there should be party primaries to determine the placement of the various candidates.