JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Ariel Sharon chose to resort to humor as he faced tough questions from members of the Knesset State Control Committee Monday. Sharon spoke before the committee today in response to criticism expressed in the State Comptroller’s report over preparatory work at the Prime Minister’s Office ahead of the pullout. During the session, right-wing Knesset members presented Sharon with a series of questions regarding the upcoming settlement evacuation and the decision-making process that led to it. The prime minister, known as a public relations wizard, mostly read pre-written answers and refused to address the preparatory work undertaken ahead of the disengagement. At one point, Sharon chose to offer a sarcastic response to a question from Shinui Knesset Member Meli Polishook-Bloch, wondering why her fellow party member and former Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid failed to update her. “Strange that Tommy, who is knowledgeable about the issues, didn’t report to you,” he said. ‘Preparing to become prime minister?' Later, Knesset Member Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) asked Sharon how he is able to pass the decisions he is interested in passing. Sharon again resorted to humor, telling Gafni: “Do you want to prepare yourself to becoming prime minister?” However, the prime minister did choose to address a plethora of other issues, including conversion, the Citizenship Law, education reform, and plans to bring more new immigrants to Israel. The committee members ended up leaving the meeting with smiles on their faces but disappointed that they did not receive the answers they wanted with regards to the disengagement plan.