'Government in danger’

Prime minister says government may be toppled if Likud “rebels” decide to vote against state budget. Speaking before Likud women’s forum, Sharon fails to hear question from crowd, says “there are so many women here one gets confused”
By Attila Somfalvi

TEL AVIV - Likud “rebels” who plan to vote against the state budget in a bid to thwart the Gaza pullout could end up toppling the government, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warns.

Sharon, who spoke before members of the Likud’s women’s forum, admitted the government if facing a problem.

“There is a group within the Likud that threatens to vote against the budget, thereby toppling the government,” he said. “I turn to you so you exercise your influence on the men and undertake every effort to ensure that a Likud-led government doesn’t fall.”

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A Likud government should continue leading the country in the future, Sharon said, and added that party members must not take any steps that could endanger the government.

“There are legitimate disagreements on political and possibly economic issues, but today we need the entire Likud faction to vote in favor of the budget,” he said.

Sharon “confused” by women

Sharon, who arrived at the convention to mark International Women’s day, said all Israelis must act to bring about full equality between men and women. The prime minister noted that 25 percent of government ministries’ director-generals are women, and added that female Knesset members of all factions do a fine job.

At one point, Sharon was asked a question by someone in the crowd but did not hear it. The prime minister chose to resort to one of his trademark humorous remarks and said he did not hear the question because “there are so many women (here) one gets confused.”