"The prime minister has had enough. This is no way to run a state," they said.
In Sunday's cabinet meeting Sharon is expected to announce which portfolios he is planning on giving two of his new appointees – Ronnie Bar-On and Ze'ev Boim. The third expected appointment is of Ehud Olmert as the permanent finance minister.
Rift widens
The Knesset's winter session will open on Monday with a vote on the appointment of the new ministers. Ahead of the vote, the rift between Sharon and his faction seems greater than ever – and so does the rift between the supporters of and objectors to the appointments.
Sharon's main opponent, MK Benjamin Netanyahu, was expected to vote against Sharon and issued an official statement Saturday, saying that he will vote against the appointments.
The statement said that "This is a typical step of buying votes and continuing the corruption of Israeli politics. MKs should vote on crucial issues according to their conscience and the mandate received from their movement, and not in exchange for compensation and threats from the prime minister."
Sharon's aides blasted Netanyahu in response and accused him of causing a rift in the Likud party.
They blamed him for trying to bring Sharon down once again and said that "Now it is clear who is really causing a rift in the Likud – the rebels and Bibi Netanyahu."
Meanwhile, MKs Uzi Landau and Moshe Kahlon said during the weekend that they intend on voting against the ministers' appointment, bringing the number of opposers in the Likud to eight.
MK Michael Ratzon told Ynet that "The prime minister should reach understandings with us, mainly on the political issue."
"Everything is open until Monday, but we have to be partners in the planning of social issues, education issues, welfare, the strengthening of Jerusalem and the settlements, and the fence building," he said.
Sharon not bowing to pressure
Sharon’s associates rejected demands by the so-called “Likud rebels” to split the vote so that the appointment of Olmert as permanent finance minister is not bind to the appointments of Bar-On and Boim.
“There is no chance to split the vote on the appointment of ministers. If they are not willing to support ministers from their faction then they certainly won’t support the government in other votes. If everyone does what he likes, there is no point in having a coalition,” Sharon’s associates said.
The prime minister lately conducted a series of meetings with some Likud rebels in an effort to lure them back to his side.
MK Ehud Yatom (Likud) who met the prime minister suggested that the ‘rebels’ support the new appointments in return for the prime minister accepting to accord Uzi Landau a ministerial position in government. Sharon refused the proposal confirming Yatom’s fears that the prime minister is not willing to make conciliatory concessions.
MK Mitzna: 'Appointments are unjustified, expensive'
Prime minister Sharon is not only facing opposition to the new ministerial appointments from his own faction. Some Labor MKs have raised their eyebrows wondering if all three appointments are necessary.
MK Amram Mitzna told Ynet that he sees no need to expand the government by three new ministers. The prime minister can ensure his political survival under the current coalition, he said, arguing that three new ministerial positions will prove an expansive endeavor for the state.
“If the prime minister would put forward for vote the appointment of the finance minister Ehud Olmert separately I would vote in favor of the appointment,” Mitzna said.
Following Mitzna’s announcement, other Labor MKs are expected to follow suite, making the coalition’s chances to survive its first test after the summer break ever more slim.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report