Free Republic

Feb. 9, 2005 4:33 | Updated Feb. 9, 2005 6:36 Yosef opposes referendum on pullout By GIL HOFFMAN Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz shows Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef the map of the disengagement plan to try and convince him to support the plan Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski Shas mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef decided on Tuesday to oppose a national referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, declining to follow the lead of Degel Hatorah mentor Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv. Elyashiv stunned his rabbinical cohorts on Monday when he endorsed Knesset Law Committee chairman Michael Eitan's referendum bill. Degel...

Last Update: 12/01/2005 23:03 PM wins war of wills with Likud rebels on State Budget bill By Mazal Mualem and Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondents The Knesset on Wednesday approved the first reading of the 2005 State Budget bill after the Likud rebels decided to support it. The bill was passed by a majority of 64 to 53 MKs, thus preventing a deep parliamentary crisis as sources close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned that if the bill was rejected, Sharon would not hesitate to call on new elections. The anti-disengagement Likud rebels decided earlier on Wednesday to vote in favor...

Jan. 11, 2005 20:34 | Updated Jan. 11, 2005 23:17B> Rebels to decide government's fate By NINA GILBERT AND GIL HOFFMAN The fate of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's two-day-old national-unity government will be decided on Wednesday morning when the so-called rebels convene at the Knesset to decide how they will vote on the 2005 state budget. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu brought the budget before the Knesset for a first reading for a second time on Tuesday without knowing for certain whether he would have a majority to get it approved on Wednesday. The budget deals totaling NIS 890 million with...

Dec. 29, 2004 20:09 | Updated Dec. 29, 2004 22:12 Likud rebels blocking unity gov't By GIL HOFFMAN Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's troubles forming a national unity government intensified on Wednesday when 13 so-called Likud rebel MKs vowed not to support the appointment of Labor ministers and the disengagement implementation bill. The MKs made the commitment in a letter to United Torah Judaism MKs, in an effort to persuade UTJ not to join the coalition. The letter is seen as a last-ditch effort by the rebels to prevent the implementation of the disengagement plan by forcing Sharon to initiate early...