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| Israel-Palestine |
| Netanyahu: I will be prime minister soon |
| 2004-10-29 |
| Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Wednesday vowed to unseat Ariel Sharon as head of the Likud Party and return to the prime minister's chair in the near future. It's very possible there will be a new Israeli PM, but BiBi might be jumping the gun a little. Now is not the time for Lukud infighting. Supporters of the former prime minister said he recognized the falling-out between himself and Sharon would not be mended, and was preparing for a definitive split within the party. The open challenge to Sharon's rule came less than a day after Netanyahu threatened to resign his critical post if the prime minister did not agree to put his Gaza-first retreat plan to a national referendum. Netanyahu Thursday made clear he had no intention of backing down, even if other senior ministers withdrew from the ultimatum. Over the past month, Sharon has repeatedly expressed his confidence that early elections would see him remain at the nation's helm with increased political power. Sharon has stated on several occasions that he would prefer fresh elections to a referendum on his "disengagement" plan, though he desires neither. But Israel's Channel One News on Wednesday said Netanyahu had a different take on the outcome of the next national election, whenever it may be held. "If there will be an election, I will be Likud chairman," he was quoted as saying, referring to the fact that prior to a national poll, the various parties would hold internal primaries. When questioned by The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu's office would not confirm the quote, but did say the finance minister believed there would be elections soon and that he would likely run. The Sharon camp issued blistering criticism of Netanyahu following the reports, vowing to make sure that even after Sharon retired, Netanyahu would never return to power. While Netanyahu has for nearly two years maintained a low profile politically, Sharon's relentless drive to uproot the Jews of Gaza has caused the long-simmering animosity between the two men to once again boil to the surface. As the Knesset prepared to vote Tuesday on Sharon's retreat plan, Netanyahu warned that the prime minister's tactics in pushing forward his initiative were creating a deadly rift in the nation. But Netanyahu's calls for a referendum in order to salvage unity among the people fell on deaf ears. So following the vote, Netanyahu informed Sharon he would resign as finance minister if the prime minister did not approve of a referendum within two weeks. On Thursday, Netanyahu insisted he would not back down on his demand, even though other Likud ministers had already rescinded their support for fear of losing their jobs. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #7 'Yahad Chairman Yossi Beilin said Friday that the neutralization LOL Even Dowdified it sounds like good. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-10-29 6:31:11 PM |
| #6 Haaretz 'Yahad Chairman Yossi Beilin said Friday that the neutralization of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has created a rare opportunity for the renewal of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. "Until yesterday, we supported a unilateral withdrawal, but as of today, we are demanding negotiations," Beilin said. He went on to say that Israel should withdraw from the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, while coordinating security arrangements with the Palestinians. Beilin's Yahad party supported the disengagement plan in the Knesset vote on Tuesday, in spite of the fact that as an initiator of the Geneva Accord, Beilin found it difficult to support a unilateral move. In remarks Friday, Beilin backed calls made Thursday by Yahad MK Zehava Gal-On for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to prepare for a post-Arafat era, to revise his policy, and coordinate the withdrawal from Gaza with moderate Palestinians. According to Gal-On, Israel must reappraise the situation and implement the Gaza pullback alongside negotiations. MK Ephraim Sneh (Labor) said that the evacuation of Arafat to a Paris hospital has created a new reality. "Israel needs to initiate a policy based on coordinating the pullout with the Palestinian government," Sneh said.' |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-10-29 3:21:38 PM |
| #5 never underestimate Bibi. In particular the imminent passage to hell of Mr. Arafat may have pulled him out of a dilemma. He managed to avoid taking a clear position for or against disengagement by pushing for a referendum. Sharon said mustnt delay for a referendum. With uncertainty on the Pal side, there may be delay anyway, though Sharon denies. And if a moderate like Abbas succeeds, that creates yet more possibilities. In particular it may make it harder for Labor to join a Sharon govt. Labor accepted, grudgingly (in the case of Mitzna and Labors left, VERY grudgingly) that talks were on hold while Arafat was in power. If Abbas is the new Pal Prez, Labour will certainly push for talks. Not clear if Sharon can pull Likud that far. Sharon would be isolated, and Bibi could well take over as head of Likud. Labour would get the govt, and start negotiations. Of course if negotiations succeeded, Bibi would probably be history and be succeeded by a younger Likud moderate, maybe Olmert. If negotiations fail, Bibi might have a shot at PM. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-10-29 2:09:41 PM |
| #4 bibi speaks English well and is popular in the US but he most Israelis seem him as, well basically a jerk. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-10-29 1:47:59 PM |
| #3 But Egypt and Jordan have made it clear they do not want to administer the territories. They know that's a loser's game. At least when Israel was in charge (before Intifadas I and II) they built schools and sewer systems, and made sure clean water was available. Neither Egypt nor Jordan have the funds to spare for such fripperies, and the population is even more radicalized than it was in 1967. Popcorn, anyone? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-29 10:56:55 AM |
| #2 I strongly suspect that BN has shot his wad. Sharon just pulled off a major coup in the Knesset, which left BN and his three fellows not only out in the cold, but looking weak, thus diminishing their chances for a comeback. I predict Sharon will replace much of his cabinet with reliable pro-withdrawl Labor party ministers, who he would need to force recalcitrant settlers with anyway. He will then perform an orderly withdrawl, much to the dismay of his enemies on all sides, and will then put all resources into complete disengagement with the Paleos. This will only really come about with Egyptian and Jordanian administration of the Paleo territories. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-10-29 9:54:44 AM |
| #1 We with B.N. as prime minister the Paleos would be begging for Sharon back. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-29 7:18:22 AM |