Washington looks to ensure Israeli retreat

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By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
March 15, 2005

The Bush administration is looking to ensure Israel’s retreat from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria by interfering in internal Israeli politics in order to shore up support for the 2005 national budget.

If Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fails to win Knesset approval for the budget by March 30, his government will fall and his plan to uproot Jews from lands claimed by the Arabs will be in jeopardy.

Opposition leader Yosef (Tommy) Lapid told Ynet Tuesday Washington was pressuring him and his Shinui faction to vote in favor of the budget in order to save Sharon’s “disengagement” plan.

“I don’t know whether this is coming from the American administration, or whether Sharon's people have asked them to do it,” Lapid said.

Shinui opposes the budget in its current form because of large sums of money promised to religious Jewish institutions.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, meanwhile, also plans to vote against the budget because of spending cuts in the religious sector.

If the budget fails to pass by March 30, Israeli law states that general elections will be held 90 days later.

Sharon’s aides have expressed confidence he would easily be elected again.

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