13 LIKUD LOYALISTS TO VOTE "NO"; SHARON FURIOUS

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Monday afternoon denounced the decision of 13 Likud MKs to vote this evening (Monday) against approval of new coalition ministers.

Sharon is expected to survive a no-confidence vote if the Arab factions live up to their promise not to side with opponents of the disengagement expulsion plan. However, the additional strength of the opposition makes him increasingly dependent on support from factions outside the coalition.

"Whoever wants to bring a tragedy on Israel and split the Likud…can go vote against the coalition," Prime Minister Sharon told the Likud faction Monday afternoon." He said any vote on approval of the new ministers will be considered a vote of confidence in the government.

Uzi Landau, leader of the Likud "loyalists" opposing Sharon's plan to dismantle 24 Jewish communities in Gaza and northern Samaria, announced earlier in the day that 13 Likud MKs will vote with the opposition against Sharon. Eight MKs outside of the coalition from the Meretz/Yachad and Am Ehad (One Nation) parties support Sharon's plan and have promised to support him on the issue despite their opposition to the government's economic program. One other Am Ehad MK, David Tal, has not announced how he will vote.

Their support would give Sharon at least 59 votes, five from the United Torah Judaism, 19 from Labor, and 27 of 40 Likud party MKs. The opposition has 51 certain nay votes – the NRP (6), National Union (6) not including MK Michael Nudelman who still is undecided), Shas (11), Shinui (15), and 13 Likud MKs.

A mere majority vote is required to approve the government, as opposed to an absolute majority of 61 which is needed to defeat the government. The support of the left-wing Meretz/Yachad party is a bitter pill both for them and for Sharon. "My stomach is turning" at the thought of having to support Sharon, said Meretz/Yachad MK Zahava Gal-On Monday. She called on Sharon to immediately begin negotiations with newly elected Palestinian Authority (PA) president Abu Mazen.

The Arab MKs are natural political opponents of all Israeli governments and oppose the Sharon plan for not going far enough in evicting Jews from communities throughout Judea and Samaria. However, they have said they would not help bring down the government and leave themselves open to blame for Sharon not carrying out his proposal.

Sharon and his allies call the 13 Likud opponents "rebels," who argue they are "Likud loyalists." In deciding to against the government, MK Gilad Erdan said, "I have to be able to explain to my children one day that I did everything I could to stop this plan." MK Ehud Yatom said, "We have to vote against this expulsion plan, period."

Others said that in light of Ehud Olmert's statements and others, "it is clear that this is just the beginning, and that the plan is to demolish more Jewish communities and abandon more land to our enemies."

Sharon told the Likud faction there is no comparison between comparing consequences of his plan and those of the failed Oslo plan offered by previous Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The failure of Arabs to accept his willingness to give Arabs almost all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza plus a presence in Jerusalem prompted the current war which broke out four and a half years ago. "This time it won't happen," Sharon said, referring to the concessions Barak offered.

The 13 Likud MKs are steadfastly in favor of the Likud Party platform on which it was elected, which is against the demolition of Jewish communities and therefore does not support the proposed coalition. They considered abstaining, for fear of being held responsible by the Likud Central Committee for having toppled the government, or for fear that Sharon would not give up in any event, but would rather try once again to form a Likud-Labor-Shinui government. However, these fears were outweighed by the desire to thwart the "disengagement" government.

http://israelnn.com/news.php3?id=75071

Unity Government Passes by a Small Margin
20:10 Jan 10, '05 / 29 Tevet 5765

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s new unity government which includes Labor and United Torah Judaism was approved in Knesset a short time ago in a 58-56 vote with 6 abstentions. The new ministers are being sworn in, including Vice Premier Shimon Peres.

http://israelnn.com/news.php3?id=75072

A Look at the New Cabinet
20:30 Jan 10, '05 / 29 Tevet 5765

(IsraelNN.com) Following is a list of the new cabinet following this evening’s Knesset approval of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s new unity coalition government.

Prime Minister - Ariel Sharon (Likud)
Vice Premier – Shimon Peres (Labor)
Deputy Premier and Industry & Trade Minister – Ehud Olmert (Likud)
Foreign Minister – Silvan Shalom (Likud)
Defense Minister – Shaul Mofaz (Not an MK/Likud)
Finance Minister - Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud)
Justice Minister – Tzipi Livni (Likud)
Public Security Minister – Gideon Ezra (Likud)
Interior Minister – Ofir Pines (Labor)
Education Minister – Limor Livnat (Likud)
National Infrastructure Minister – Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor)
Housing & Construction Minister – Yitzhak Herzog(Labor) (in place of Tzipi Livni)
Diaspora Affairs Minister – Natan Sharansky (Not an MK/Likud)
Transportation Minister – Meir Sheetrit (Likud)
Health Minister – Danny Naveh (Likud)
Agriculture Minister – Yisrael Katz (Likud)
Communications Minister – Dalia Itzik (Labor) (in place of Ehud Olmert)
Environmental Affairs Minister – Shalom Simchon (Labor)
Tourism Minister – Avraham Hirschson (Likud) (in place of Gideon Ezra)
Minister-without-Portfolio – Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud)
Minister-without-Portfolio – Matan Vilnai (Labor)
Minister-without Portfolio – Haim Ramon (Labor)

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