Early elections?

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin: government must call early elections following embarrassing loss in three no-confidence votes
By Ilan Marciano

JERUSALEM - Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said Wednesday the government must call early elections, following an embarrassing loss in three no-confidence votes Tuesday.

No-confidence in Sharon

Sharon facing the heat / By Ilan Marciano

First time current government loses three straight no-confidence votes; majority necessary to topple government not obtained

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“As of today, (Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon has support on only one issue - disengagement,” said Rivlin. “Any normal parliament would now be asking not whether to dissolve parliament (and call early elections), but when to do it.”

Rivlin said Sharon has lost his political base, and that the government has lost the ability to win support for its policies, creating a situation in which there is “no choice” but to move up general elections, currently slated for late 2006.

“In the Knesset today, any bastard whose demands aren’t met is king, and votes against the government,” he said.

Likud sources rejected Rivlin’s outburst, saying it stemmed from his objection to the disengagement plan. The source also criticized the Knesset speaker, saying that when push came to shove, Rivlin chose to stay in government rather than stick to his anti-disengagement principles by joining the Likud “rebel” group that has voted consistently against disengagement.

Eroding power

Adding to Sharon’s troubles, opposition leader Yosef Lapid (Shinui) told the prime minister Tuesday’s vote was a sign of “eroding power”, at a time when the government must display a strong hand.

"It will be hard (for Sharon) to carry out the (disengagement) program if there is a general feeling that the Knesset isn’t behind him. Sharon admits he knows this and says he knows a solution must be found,” said Lapid. “The prime minister must talk about his post-disengagement plans.”

Sharon responded that following the withdrawal it will be the Palestinians' turn to disarm terror groups.