csua.org/u/9nr -> quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a7CtNAmLycPo&refer=top_world_news
Sharon Wins Vote to Evacuate Settlers From Gaza Strip (Update2) Oct. Sharon won the vote 67-45 in the Knesset, with seven abstentions, capital izing on support from the Shinui Party, a coalition partner, and from th e opposition Labor Party, led by former Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Sev enteen of the 40 Knesset members from Sharon's own Likud Party opposed t he bill. The people of Israel have decided to leave the Gaza Strip,'' Deputy Pri me Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview on Channel 2 television aft er the vote. Oppone nts say withdrawal shows the Palestinians that they can win more land fr om Israel by continuing their four- year-old uprising. Referendum Demand While waiting in his seat for the Knesset session to begin, Sharon reject ed a last-minute proposal by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold a national referendum on the withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu, who voted for the Gaza plan, said he told Sharon he and at least four other cabin et ministers will quit unless the prime minister agrees within two weeks to subject the proposal to a popular vote. Otherwise we can't see ourselves staying in this government,'' Netanyah u told Channel 2 television. Within an hour after the vote, Sharon made good on his threat to fire any cabinet minister from his party who voted against the Gaza withdrawal, sending dismissal letters to Uzi Landau, a minister without portfolio, a nd Michael Ratzon, a deputy minister, Haaretz newspaper said. The prospect of losing Netanyahu will complicate Sharon's job as he tries to pass next year's budget, scheduled to be introduced in the Knesset t omorrow. By law the government will fall if Sharon can't pass a spending plan for 2005 by March 31. Discussions With Labor With nearly half his party members in parliament in open revolt by voting against the Gaza plan, Sharon will probably renew discussions with Pere s about bringing Labor into the coalition to create a majority in the 12 0-seat Knesset, said Meir Sheetrit, a cabinet member who was put in char ge of steering the Gaza withdrawal. Sharon's coalition currently control s only 59 seats and the National Religious Party, which has six seats, a lso announced it would leave with Netanyahu if there is no referendum. He really doesn't have much choice if he's going to continue to run the government,'' Sheetrit said in a telephone interview. We need partner s'' While Sharon faces opposition in his Likud Party to the Gaza withdrawal, the public supports it. Among those who said they voted for the Likud, 513 percent supported the withdrawal, according to the poll. The survey's sampling error is about plus or minus 45 percentage points. Compensation The cabinet on Sunday approved a law for compensating the approximately 8 ,000 settlers in Gaza, whose evacuation will probably begin by the end o f June. The compensation and the costs of getting the army out of Gaza w ill probably cost about 22 billion shekels ($500 million), said a gover nment official who asked not to be identified. The Gaza compensation law, a piece of legislation separate from today's p ullout vote, will go to parliament later this week of next, the official said. The final size of the compensation package and the details of how much individual settlers will be paid will be decided in the next few d ays, he said. The prime minister has said he wants to evacuate troops and settlers from Gaza by the end of next year in an effort to reduce Palestinian attacks on Israelis and alleviate pressure on Israel to negotiate an agreement with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. I am convinced that this disengagement will strengthen Israel and its h old on the territory that is crucial for our existence,'' Sharon said.
|
http://csua.com/feed/