How can we stay together?
Likud ‘rebels’ resign from Finance Committee, pave way for budget to pass, disengagement referendum to go to Knesset vote; Rivlin: Likud 'already two parties'
JERUSALEM - In the midst of an Likud Party storm that threatens to rip apart the party of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the Knesset Finance Committee is meeting at this hour to ratify the 2005 budget.
One committee member, Knesset Member Avraham Shohat (Labor), told reporters that the budget is "terrible," but said he would "hold his nose" and vote in favor in order to
ensure the success of the Gaza disengagement program, currently scheduled to begin in July.
Sharon: split threatens Likud future
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday that the refusal of Likud members opposed to disengagement to ratify the budget could spell the end of the party.
“It’s not entirely clear to me just how we can all run on a single ticket in the next elections,” said Sharon. “I support disengagement, they oppose it.”
The frank admission was echoed by senior Likud Knesset members, including Education Minister Limor Livnat, Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, and Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin.
Rivlin criticized the rebel group, saying they should not be permitted to “shoot the Likud in the head”. But he also acknowledged the split has already occurred. “In essence, we are already two parties,” he said.
Budget ratification expected
Monday, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the party had “no choice”
but to expel Likud members opposed to the disengagement plan from the Knesset Finance Committee.
Late in the day, sides reached a compromise whereby Likud members in the Finance Committee would observe party discipline on the state budget, and those who declared they would oppose the state budget would be replaced.
In exchange for the approval of the state budget, Likud members in the Legislative Committee would permit the submission of the referendum bill to a Knesset vote.
Likud member Michael Ratzon, one of the ‘rebel’ group opposed to disengagement, slammed Sheetrit and Netanyahu, saying “this is a declaration of war. (Such a decision) would cross all red lines, with far reaching consequences.”
Sharon meets rebels
Also Monday, Sharon invited the disengagement opponents for a round-table discussion, in a bid to convince the group to support the state budget.
The meeting was arranged by Likud Central Committee member Shimon Gabso, who complained that Sharon met with nearly all Knesset factions, including the ultra-Orthodox and the Arabs, but not with his own party members.
But rebel leaders said they were not optimistic the meeting would resolve the deep divide. Knesset Member Ehud Yatom said he would vote in favor of the state budget only if Sharon agrees to a national referendum on the pullout plan.
"I don’t see any other option,” he said.
