The still-developing story began last night with the report that Likud Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu had informed the four Likud government ministers that they must quit the government.
The four ministers in question are Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Health Minister Danny Naveh, and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz. Netanyahu himself resigned as Finance Minister this past August - shortly before, and in protest of, the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron.
Netanyahu told the four that he was reinstating his original decision of last week that the Likud must quit the government. That decision, however, was suspended for reasons of "national responsibility" when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took ill. "We have a responsibility to the country," a senior Likud source said at the time, "and this not the time to discuss resignations." Netanyahu himself said then that all politicking should be put on hold for a few days.
However, in light of the fact that Kadima Party leaders themselves have already resumed politicking, Netanyahu decided that the Likud need no longer hold back from political moves. "Kadima is taking actions that mean the division of Jerusalem," he explained last night, "and the Likud cannot be an alternative to the regime while sitting in the government and carrying out its policies."
The four ministers, led by Netanyahu's rival Foreign Minister Shalom, decided not to accept the decree so fast. They first announced that they would not resign, and were greeted with threats that Netanyahu would instruct his many supporters in the Central Committee not to vote for them in today's party primaries.
The ministers then said, later this morning, that they would resign - but only on Sunday, after today's party primaries. Reports of a rebellion within the Likud filled the news reports.
By 11 AM, the Likud ministers apparently decided that they had gone too far. First Yisrael Katz, then Ministers Livnat and Naveh, deposited their resignation letters with Netanyahu or with the Cabinet secretariat, or said they would do so within a short time.
Naveh gave a letter to the Cabinet, stating his intention to resign but adding, "The time of the resignation is not yet known, and will be determined by MK Binyamin Netanyahu."
The lone hold-out was Minister Shalom, whose #2 place on the Likud list was reserved for him after the internal elections for party leader several weeks ago. In addition to flexing his muscles against Netanyahu, he was said not to want to resign from the Foreign Ministry at this time, with many foreign dignitaries scheduled to arrive and other prestigious events on schedule.
However, at 2 PM, he too announced that he would resign, but only this Sunday. He is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu at 4 PM.
Likud Party primaries for the list of Knesset candidates are being held today at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds.
The four ministers in question are Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Health Minister Danny Naveh, and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz. Netanyahu himself resigned as Finance Minister this past August - shortly before, and in protest of, the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron.
Netanyahu told the four that he was reinstating his original decision of last week that the Likud must quit the government. That decision, however, was suspended for reasons of "national responsibility" when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took ill. "We have a responsibility to the country," a senior Likud source said at the time, "and this not the time to discuss resignations." Netanyahu himself said then that all politicking should be put on hold for a few days.
However, in light of the fact that Kadima Party leaders themselves have already resumed politicking, Netanyahu decided that the Likud need no longer hold back from political moves. "Kadima is taking actions that mean the division of Jerusalem," he explained last night, "and the Likud cannot be an alternative to the regime while sitting in the government and carrying out its policies."
The four ministers, led by Netanyahu's rival Foreign Minister Shalom, decided not to accept the decree so fast. They first announced that they would not resign, and were greeted with threats that Netanyahu would instruct his many supporters in the Central Committee not to vote for them in today's party primaries.
The ministers then said, later this morning, that they would resign - but only on Sunday, after today's party primaries. Reports of a rebellion within the Likud filled the news reports.
By 11 AM, the Likud ministers apparently decided that they had gone too far. First Yisrael Katz, then Ministers Livnat and Naveh, deposited their resignation letters with Netanyahu or with the Cabinet secretariat, or said they would do so within a short time.
Naveh gave a letter to the Cabinet, stating his intention to resign but adding, "The time of the resignation is not yet known, and will be determined by MK Binyamin Netanyahu."
The lone hold-out was Minister Shalom, whose #2 place on the Likud list was reserved for him after the internal elections for party leader several weeks ago. In addition to flexing his muscles against Netanyahu, he was said not to want to resign from the Foreign Ministry at this time, with many foreign dignitaries scheduled to arrive and other prestigious events on schedule.
However, at 2 PM, he too announced that he would resign, but only this Sunday. He is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu at 4 PM.
Likud Party primaries for the list of Knesset candidates are being held today at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds.