Regardless of whether a National Unity government or a
narrow one will take office, activists in Sharon's
headquarters are already planning how they can gain control
of a number of key positions in the Knesset. First on the
list is that of the job of Speaker (Chairman) of the
Knesset, currently held by Avraham Burg of One Israel.
The current elections are for the prime minister only, and
if Ariel Sharon is chosen, he will enter a Knesset in which
positions were doled out after the previous election, were
Ehud Barak was the winner. Labor controls the current
Knesset, occupying a number of key positions, and the Likud
can't afford to let this continue. It can't set up a
coalition and a government under such conditions. So much
depends on the Knesset. If the government does not control
the Knesset it will not be able to stay in power very
long.
The first position the Likud will seek to take over is that
of the Knesset Chairman. This job has always been reserved
for the ruling party, and it is inconceivable that Burg
would continue to hold this key position, even if a National
Unity government is formed.
According to law, a majority of at least 80 Knesset members
is required to depose a Knesset chairman and the Likud is
aware that there is little likelihood that it could secure
such numbers. For that reason, it is planning to ask Burg to
play fair and submit his resignation. If Burg refuses, the
Likud was talking about passing a special law stating that
if special elections are held for the position of prime
minister and the Government subsequently changes, the term
of the Chairman of the Knesset will automatically end.
Likud candidates for this position Include Naomi Blumental,
Gidon Ezra, Michael Eitan and Uzi Landau. Additional
positions which the Likud is demanding include: chairman of
the Finance Committee, currently held by Eli Goldschmidt of
One Israel; chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice
Committee, held by Amnon Rubinstein of Meretz; and chairman
of the Knesset Committee, held by Salach Tarif from One
Israel. The current head of the Foreign Affairs and Security
Committee, Dan Meridor, will apparently receive a government
ministry position, thus vacating that position, enabling the
Likud to secure this position without any particular
difficulty.
Candidates for chairmen of the abovementioned committees
are: a Shas or UTJ member for chairman of the Finance
Committee; Michael Eitan or a Shas member for the Knesset
Committee; Uzi Landau, who has formerly presided in this
position, or Gidon Ezra, former deputy chairman of the
Internal Security Service, for the Foreign Affairs and
Security Committee; for the Constitution Committee, either
Nachum Langental of the Mafdal, former Justice Minister
Tzachi Hanegbi or Tzipi Livni if she is not appointed to a
ministerial position.
In addition, the Likud will seek to make changes in the
position of the Knesset presidium, in order to insure that
it will have a majority in the new coalition. It also seeks
to make changes in the composition of the Knesset
committees. In short, the Likud will try to change the
system and bring about an overall change in everything
concerning overall Knesset operations. Otherwise it will be
very difficult for them to run a coalition.
The problem is that if Burg refuses to resign, a special law
must be passed in the Knesset, requiring three readings.
However, the one who determines the Knesset agenda is none
other than the Chairman of the Knesset, and Burg will in
that case do everything in his power to prevent its
enactment. The Knesset Committee, the committee that is
supposed to deliberate on this law between each reading, is
headed by an MK from One Israel, who will also try to
obstruct the law.
There is no doubt that the Likud has a great deal of work
ahead of it. Replacing those holding central positions in
the Knesset won't be easy, especially if they elect to fight
the Likud and not resign voluntarily.
Chairman of the Finance Committee Eli Goldschmidt said
recently: "If Sharon wins, my colleagues and I who hold key
positions as committee heads and heads of the Knesset,
should display integrity by resigning, making way for
appointees of the new coalition."
