Ariel Sharon has discovered that the main thrust of his
battle to implement the disengagement plan and to preserve
his coalition is yet to come.
All along Sharon and his supporters underestimated the
opposition to the disengagement plan within the Likud Party,
but 10 MKs, including a minister and a deputy minister from
his own party, drove the message home when they got up and
walked out just seconds before a vote of confidence in the
government Sharon heads.
On the other hand Attorney General Mani Mazuz gave the PM a
political boost when he decided Sharon and his son Gilad
would not have to stand trial for allegedly receiving bribe
money in the Greek island scandal.
Since the Attorney General's decision there has been a
tendency to think the Labor Party is about to join the
government, particularly since the NRP's resignation from the
coalition is now just a matter of time.
The NRP is under a lot of pressure. At a recent meeting
dozens of Likud Center and Gush Katif people lambasted Orlev,
Salomiansky and Yahalom who are still in the government. The
attack has already had an effect on Salomiansky, who joined
Levy and Eitam the same day and cast a positive no-confidence
vote on the disengagement plan.
Days later giant ads signed by the leading national-religious
rabbis around the country as well as dozens of NRP local and
city council members were placed in Hatzofeh to voice
support for Levy and Eitam. According to a survey 62 percent
of NRP voters favor Levy and Eitam's stance that the party
should resign from the government. All these developments
lead to the conclusion the NRP's resignation is unavoidable
and Orlev's time in the government is quickly running out.
Sharon is aware of where he stands with the NRP, but he also
knows where he stands with Labor. The independence proclaimed
by Likud members last week was nothing compared to the war of
independence that will break out when Sharon tries to bring
the Labor Party into the government. Twelve MKs refrained
from raising their hands in the no-confidence vote on the
disengagement plan. When Sharon tries to bring in the Labor
Party no less than 20 MKs from both sides of he aisle,
including at least five ministers, will voice opposition to
the move.
Sharon will hold talks with the Labor Party on bringing them
into the government, but will proceed with caution. In every
meeting with Peres he will keep looking back to see what his
fellow party members have in store for him and whether there
is anyone he can trust, as he said the day after the no-
confidence vote when he saw what his friends were capable of
doing to him.
Independent Committee
The rift in the Likud and evidence of its members new sense
of boldness and independence was apparent at a recent Finance
Committee meeting.
One morning the committee received a request for the transfer
of NIS 10 million to the Prime Minister's Office for a
project to have 500 young Jews from the Diaspora visit Israel
during the coming two years to get acquainted with the
country and connect to Judaism. The Prime Minister has been
working hard on this major project for a long time as part of
the campaign against assimilation. According to the plan the
funding is supposed to come from three sources: NIS 10
million from the Prime Minister's Office, NIS 10 million from
the Jewish Agency and NIS 20 million from foreign donors and
the participants themselves.
Government Secretary Yisrael Maimon made a special appearance
at the committee meeting to persuade MKs to lend their
support. "This is an extremely important issue," he told the
committee members. "The money is earmarked for Jewish
education in the Diaspora. The Prime Minister initiated the
project to fight against assimilation. This is intended for
young people and it will have an impact on them. This is a
long-term project and is extremely important. The Prime
Minister is leading this project."
But to his great dismay Eli Aflalo (Likud) requested the
transfer of funds be delayed because in his opinion the plan
should be funded by the Jewish Agency rather than the
government.
Ruchama Avraham (Likud) backed his position, saying she would
like details on the whole project before she would support
it.
Maimon was stunned. "I see here you don't trust the Prime
Minister."
Committee Chairman Avraham Hirshezon (Likud) pointedly
announced the committee would not approve the request "until
we receive all of the details . . . When all kinds of decrees
are brought here why should we approve NIS 10 million for
them at the drop of a hat?"
In response Maimon rose from his seat and stormed out. The
opposition members sat quietly, rubbing their hands together
with glee. Others were doing their job for them.
