?Likud not willing to be raped by Sharon?

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By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
August 17, 2004

Several senior Likud Knesset members – recently dubbed the “Likud rebels” – prepared Tuesday for what could be the defining moment in their effort to prevent Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from implementing policies and decisions that violate the party’s core platform and the expressed wishes of its members.

On Wednesday, the Likud Central Committee will gather to discuss and possibly vote on Sharon’s intent to form a national unity government with the leftist Labor Party, as well as his plan to transfer the Jews of Gaza from their homes.

Veteran Likud MK Uzi Landau, the leader of the so-called “rebels,” made possible the meeting by gathering hundreds of signatures in protest over Sharon’s leadership.

Sharon versus the Likud

The last time the central committee voted on one of Sharon’s policies, it overwhelmingly rejected his Gaza retreat plan.

Landau is hoping the same will happen Wednesday when he calls for a secret ballot to be held regarding the inclusion of Labor in the ruling coalition.

After vowing to abide by its results, Sharon publicly disregarded the Likud vote on his “disengagement” plan, and is expected to do the same with Wednesday’s vote, should it go against him.

But the “rebels” are determined to use the results of the meeting to bring down Sharon if necessary.

“The Likud is not willing to be raped by Sharon,” one of Landau’s supporters within the party told Ma’ariv .

Landau warned Tuesday that if Labor were to join the government, “there would be a chance of a split in the Likud Party.”

Looking to avoid accountability

For his part, Sharon is looking to avoid any votes on his policies during Wednesday’s meeting, since losing could endanger his ability to successfully lead the party.

If Landau and his backers were to win a vote against Labor’s inclusion in the coalition, Sharon could be forced to seek Knesset approval for the 2005 national budget and his retreat plan as the head of a minority government.

He would be unlikely to receive it.

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