Knesset Passes Gaza Disengagement Plan -14 Day Countdown Begins
22:18 Oct 26, '04 / 11 Cheshvan 5765
The Knesset approved the Gaza Disengagement Plan: 67 in favor; 45 against; 7 abstentions.
The Disengagement Plan was approved by the Knesset a short time ago in
a 67-45 vote with 7 abstentions. While the plan had been expected to pass all along, there were some last minute tensions - the result of power play attempts by Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Limor Livnat who sought to present Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with an ultimatum during the last hour before the vote.
Natanyahu and Livnat were planning, according to reports, to threaten to vote against Sharons plan tonight unless the Prime Minister would agree on the spot to hold a national referendum on the withdrawal plan. Mr. Sharon refused even to meet with them, taking his seat in the Knesset plenum 15 minutes before the planned vote in a demonstrative show that he had no desire to engage in last-minute negotiations.
While Netanyahu and Livnat were attempting to present their ultimatum, Minister Zevulun Orlev of the National Religious Party (NRP) came out with a 14-day ultimatum of his own. He said that the four members of the NRP who still support the government would quit the coalition in 14 days unless Sharon agrees to hold a national referendum of the expulsion of the Jewish presence in Gaza. On the other hand, if Sharon would agree, the NRP would promise not to quit the government at all.
Immediately after the Knesset vote, Finance Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Livnat made a dramatic announcement that they were joining the NRPs referendum. If within 14 days, the prime minister has not agreed to a national referendum, we cannot see ourselves remaining in the government," Netanyahu said, stating that the terms apply to him, as well as Ministers Livnat, Yisrael Katz, and Danny Naveh. Several other Likud members may also join the ultimatum to oppose the government.
Mr. Netanyahu said, "We do not want to topple or replace anyone, but we want
to give unity a chance, uniting the Likud and the nation. He added that if the
Gaza plan is not taken to the nation to decide, it will lead to a catastrophic chasm.
Likud loyalists who oppose the plan were extremely disappointed by Netanyahu and Livnat who absented themselves from the first vote but did appear in time to cast their votes in favor of the plan in time for the second polling of legislators. While the two explained repeatedly during recent days that they remain adamantly opposed to the plan, and favor a national referendum, ultimately they did raise their hands in favor of uprooting Jews from their homes and handing over portions of the Land of Israel to the PA. Likud platform loyalist Minister Dr. Uzi Landau remained true to his position and voted against the plan along with party Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon, both well aware that letters of dismissal await them. Indeed, Minister Landau was invited into the Prime Ministers office at 9:15 PM, and he was fired.
Landau told the media yesterday that if the prime minister makes good on his threat and dismisses him, he will continue his battle against forfeiting portions of the Land of Israel from his seat as a member of Knesset instead of being a cabinet minister.
Minister of LAbor and Social Welfare Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) also voted against the plan as expected. Despite Sharons threat to immediately dismiss any minister who opposes the plan, Orlev has not received any letter of dismissal. Shortly before the vote he met with the prime minister and handed him a letter setting a 14-day hiatus period during which the prime minister must announce if he will take the Gaza plan to the people in the form of a national referendum, Orlev explained that if
the prime minister accepts the referendum, he and his party colleagues will remain in the coalition until the scheduled national elections in 2006. If the prime minister rejects the referendum, then the NRP will break away from the government.
Orlev added that his party will keep its commitment to the coalition if there is a referendum, not contingent on the outcome of the vote. The letter presented to Mr. Sharon was signed by NRP and Yesha Council officials, as well as Rabbis Nachum Rabinowitz, Tzafanya Drori, Motti Elon, Eitan Eisman, Shabtai Shabato, Shlomo Aviner, and Shar Yashuv HaCohen.
Likud Minister Yisrael Katz, a member of the "Likud loyalists" voted in favor of the plan along with Netanyahu and Livnat rather than face an immediate letter of dismissal from the prime minister. This was also the case with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who while he opposes the plan never indicated he would vote against it. Likud Minister Danny Naveh, who during the past hours also indicated he may oppose the plan, absented himself from the first polling but ultimately voted in favor of the plan.
Knesset Speaker (Likud) Reuven Rivlin voted against the plan as he indicated
he would.
UTJ MK Rabbi Yisrael Eichler voted against the plan along with the other
members of the United Torah Judaism faction.
The Arab Knesset members who indicated they would oppose the plan appeared for the second polling and voted for the plan rather than join the ranks of the right-wing who voted against it. Other Arab legislators comprised six of the seven abstentions.
Likud MK Eli Aflalo was brought to the Knesset in an ambulance following a
surgical procedure to vote in favor of the plan. Visibly weak and expending great physical effort to leave his hospital bed, Aflalo announced that now was the time to come out in support of the prime minister's efforts.
Former Shinui minister, MK Yehudit Naot, was not present due to illness.
Illness also compelled her to step down from her cabinet post.
Published: 20:12 October 26, 2004
Last Update: 22:18 October 26, 2004
22:18 Oct 26, '04 / 11 Cheshvan 5765
The Disengagement Plan was approved by the Knesset a short time ago in
a 67-45 vote with 7 abstentions. While the plan had been expected to pass all along, there were some last minute tensions - the result of power play attempts by Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Limor Livnat who sought to present Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with an ultimatum during the last hour before the vote.
Natanyahu and Livnat were planning, according to reports, to threaten to vote against Sharons plan tonight unless the Prime Minister would agree on the spot to hold a national referendum on the withdrawal plan. Mr. Sharon refused even to meet with them, taking his seat in the Knesset plenum 15 minutes before the planned vote in a demonstrative show that he had no desire to engage in last-minute negotiations.
While Netanyahu and Livnat were attempting to present their ultimatum, Minister Zevulun Orlev of the National Religious Party (NRP) came out with a 14-day ultimatum of his own. He said that the four members of the NRP who still support the government would quit the coalition in 14 days unless Sharon agrees to hold a national referendum of the expulsion of the Jewish presence in Gaza. On the other hand, if Sharon would agree, the NRP would promise not to quit the government at all.
Immediately after the Knesset vote, Finance Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Livnat made a dramatic announcement that they were joining the NRPs referendum. If within 14 days, the prime minister has not agreed to a national referendum, we cannot see ourselves remaining in the government," Netanyahu said, stating that the terms apply to him, as well as Ministers Livnat, Yisrael Katz, and Danny Naveh. Several other Likud members may also join the ultimatum to oppose the government.
Mr. Netanyahu said, "We do not want to topple or replace anyone, but we want
to give unity a chance, uniting the Likud and the nation. He added that if the
Gaza plan is not taken to the nation to decide, it will lead to a catastrophic chasm.
Likud loyalists who oppose the plan were extremely disappointed by Netanyahu and Livnat who absented themselves from the first vote but did appear in time to cast their votes in favor of the plan in time for the second polling of legislators. While the two explained repeatedly during recent days that they remain adamantly opposed to the plan, and favor a national referendum, ultimately they did raise their hands in favor of uprooting Jews from their homes and handing over portions of the Land of Israel to the PA. Likud platform loyalist Minister Dr. Uzi Landau remained true to his position and voted against the plan along with party Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon, both well aware that letters of dismissal await them. Indeed, Minister Landau was invited into the Prime Ministers office at 9:15 PM, and he was fired.
Landau told the media yesterday that if the prime minister makes good on his threat and dismisses him, he will continue his battle against forfeiting portions of the Land of Israel from his seat as a member of Knesset instead of being a cabinet minister.
Minister of LAbor and Social Welfare Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) also voted against the plan as expected. Despite Sharons threat to immediately dismiss any minister who opposes the plan, Orlev has not received any letter of dismissal. Shortly before the vote he met with the prime minister and handed him a letter setting a 14-day hiatus period during which the prime minister must announce if he will take the Gaza plan to the people in the form of a national referendum, Orlev explained that if
the prime minister accepts the referendum, he and his party colleagues will remain in the coalition until the scheduled national elections in 2006. If the prime minister rejects the referendum, then the NRP will break away from the government.
Orlev added that his party will keep its commitment to the coalition if there is a referendum, not contingent on the outcome of the vote. The letter presented to Mr. Sharon was signed by NRP and Yesha Council officials, as well as Rabbis Nachum Rabinowitz, Tzafanya Drori, Motti Elon, Eitan Eisman, Shabtai Shabato, Shlomo Aviner, and Shar Yashuv HaCohen.
Likud Minister Yisrael Katz, a member of the "Likud loyalists" voted in favor of the plan along with Netanyahu and Livnat rather than face an immediate letter of dismissal from the prime minister. This was also the case with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who while he opposes the plan never indicated he would vote against it. Likud Minister Danny Naveh, who during the past hours also indicated he may oppose the plan, absented himself from the first polling but ultimately voted in favor of the plan.
Knesset Speaker (Likud) Reuven Rivlin voted against the plan as he indicated
he would.
UTJ MK Rabbi Yisrael Eichler voted against the plan along with the other
members of the United Torah Judaism faction.
The Arab Knesset members who indicated they would oppose the plan appeared for the second polling and voted for the plan rather than join the ranks of the right-wing who voted against it. Other Arab legislators comprised six of the seven abstentions.
Likud MK Eli Aflalo was brought to the Knesset in an ambulance following a
surgical procedure to vote in favor of the plan. Visibly weak and expending great physical effort to leave his hospital bed, Aflalo announced that now was the time to come out in support of the prime minister's efforts.
Former Shinui minister, MK Yehudit Naot, was not present due to illness.
Illness also compelled her to step down from her cabinet post.
Published: 20:12 October 26, 2004
Last Update: 22:18 October 26, 2004
