Lapid: won't bow to pressure
צילום: רויטרס
Lapid: U.S. pressuring me
Shinui leader tells Ynet American politicians pressuring party to ratify budget; Lapid: pressure from all sides but PM office
Knesset member Yosef Lapid told Ynet on Tuesday that high-level American politicians have contacted him in recent weeks to pressure Shinui to vote in favor of the 2005 budget.
The budget must pass by March 30 or the government will fall.
“I am being pressured by all sides except one, that of the prime minister," Lapid said. “I don’t know whether this is coming from the American administration, or whether Sharon's people have asked them to do it.”
In either event, Lapid says his answer is the same, Shinui wants to join the government.
Earlier Tuesday, Lapid met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.
Fischer said Israel and the Arab world were facing a historic moment, and must not let the chance go to waste.
Lapid told Fischer that even early elections would not derail the disengagement plan.
In an interview with Ynet, Lapid and Avraham Poraz denied any factional infighting with regard to the budget.
“If Sharon’s people think we are fighting, they are wrong,” Poraz said.
