Da Ha'aretz del 11/01/2005
Originale su http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/525454.html
New government squeaks through
di Gideon Alon, Mazal Mualem
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new government was narrowly approved by the Knesset yesterday despite no-confidence votes from 13 members of his own Likud Party, thanks to support from outside the coalition by the left-wing Yahad faction.
The so-called "disengagement government," comprised of Likud, Labor and United Torah Judaism, was approved by a vote of 58-56, with six abstentions. In addition to Yahad's support, Sharon owes the narrow victory to a decision by two Arab MKs, Talab al-Sana and Abdulmalik Dehamshe of the United Arab List, to abstain instead of joining the other Arab parties in voting against. Had they voted against, the tally would have been 58-58, and a tie vote counts as a defeat.
Even as the roll-call vote began, it was still not clear whether the new government would win a majority. In an effort to pressure Likud opponents of disengagement to abstain instead of voting against, Sharon declared the vote a confidence vote. But this maneuver failed: All 13 "rebels" voted against.
Sharon's salvation came from Yahad, five of whose six MKs honored their pledge of a "safety net" for the disengagement by voting for the new government. Only Yossi Sarid abstained instead. Sharon also received a crucial vote in favor from MK Yosef Paritzky, the former Shinui MK who was ousted by his party, and who therefore defied Shinui's decision to vote against. Finally, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud), though an ardent disengagement opponent, decided to abstain instead of joining his 13 colleagues in voting against.
One of the most surprising votes, however, came from MK Meir Porush (UTJ), whose party is a member of the new government. Despite this, Porush abstained instead of voting in favor. Knesset sources believe that he was instructed to do so by one of the rabbis on UTJ's Council of Torah Sages.
Sources in Sharon's office said that one of the new government's first moves will be to reopen coalition talks with Shas. The ultra-Orthodox party's entry has become vital following yesterday's vote, since with 13 Likud MKs having effectively quit the coalition by voting no-confidence in Sharon, the new government is essentially a minority one, with only 51 reliable votes (27 from Likud, 19 from Labor and 5 from UTJ). Most importantly, Sharon must pass the 2005 budget by March 31, or new elections will be called automatically. And on the budget, Yahad is unlikely to come to his rescue as it did yesterday.
The sources said that talks with Shas will probably officially resume after Sharon's first meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian Authority chairman. Shas's main reason for staying out of the coalition to date has been its objection to the disengagement's unilateral nature. But following a Sharon-Abbas meeting, Sharon's associates said, it will be possible to recast the disengagement as a move to be carried out in coordination with the PA, thereby removing Shas's objection.
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai hinted yesterday that his party would be willing to join the government in exchange for "social achievements" - i.e. substantial increases in welfare spending - and a promise that his party will be allowed to vote its conscience on disengagement. The latter demand could pose problems, as in the past, Labor has insisted that all coalition members support the disengagement.
For now, however, Yishai is continuing his campaign to wrest the title of "leader of the opposition" away from Shinui Chairman Yosef Lapid. And he greeted the new government in a decidedly oppositional manner, with a press statement saying: "The newly approved government is an illegitimate government. A coalition incapable of mustering a majority of 61 [MKs] is like a tree without roots. The present coalition's instability outweighs its stability, and therefore the validity of its decisions does not meet the public's test. This government is a Swiss cheese in which the holes overshadow the cheese."
Sharon's associates admitted yesterday that if the Likud "rebels" vote against the budget, and Shas does not join the coalition, the prime minister might have no choice but to call elections. The "rebels" are planning to decide how they will vote only tomorrow, shortly before the budget's scheduled first reading. But Sharon's circle is hopeful that at least some will opt to rejoin the party fold, citing the fact that in yesterday's no-confidence motions, which took place before the vote on the new government, the rebels supported the premier.
The so-called "disengagement government," comprised of Likud, Labor and United Torah Judaism, was approved by a vote of 58-56, with six abstentions. In addition to Yahad's support, Sharon owes the narrow victory to a decision by two Arab MKs, Talab al-Sana and Abdulmalik Dehamshe of the United Arab List, to abstain instead of joining the other Arab parties in voting against. Had they voted against, the tally would have been 58-58, and a tie vote counts as a defeat.
Even as the roll-call vote began, it was still not clear whether the new government would win a majority. In an effort to pressure Likud opponents of disengagement to abstain instead of voting against, Sharon declared the vote a confidence vote. But this maneuver failed: All 13 "rebels" voted against.
Sharon's salvation came from Yahad, five of whose six MKs honored their pledge of a "safety net" for the disengagement by voting for the new government. Only Yossi Sarid abstained instead. Sharon also received a crucial vote in favor from MK Yosef Paritzky, the former Shinui MK who was ousted by his party, and who therefore defied Shinui's decision to vote against. Finally, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud), though an ardent disengagement opponent, decided to abstain instead of joining his 13 colleagues in voting against.
One of the most surprising votes, however, came from MK Meir Porush (UTJ), whose party is a member of the new government. Despite this, Porush abstained instead of voting in favor. Knesset sources believe that he was instructed to do so by one of the rabbis on UTJ's Council of Torah Sages.
Sources in Sharon's office said that one of the new government's first moves will be to reopen coalition talks with Shas. The ultra-Orthodox party's entry has become vital following yesterday's vote, since with 13 Likud MKs having effectively quit the coalition by voting no-confidence in Sharon, the new government is essentially a minority one, with only 51 reliable votes (27 from Likud, 19 from Labor and 5 from UTJ). Most importantly, Sharon must pass the 2005 budget by March 31, or new elections will be called automatically. And on the budget, Yahad is unlikely to come to his rescue as it did yesterday.
The sources said that talks with Shas will probably officially resume after Sharon's first meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian Authority chairman. Shas's main reason for staying out of the coalition to date has been its objection to the disengagement's unilateral nature. But following a Sharon-Abbas meeting, Sharon's associates said, it will be possible to recast the disengagement as a move to be carried out in coordination with the PA, thereby removing Shas's objection.
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai hinted yesterday that his party would be willing to join the government in exchange for "social achievements" - i.e. substantial increases in welfare spending - and a promise that his party will be allowed to vote its conscience on disengagement. The latter demand could pose problems, as in the past, Labor has insisted that all coalition members support the disengagement.
For now, however, Yishai is continuing his campaign to wrest the title of "leader of the opposition" away from Shinui Chairman Yosef Lapid. And he greeted the new government in a decidedly oppositional manner, with a press statement saying: "The newly approved government is an illegitimate government. A coalition incapable of mustering a majority of 61 [MKs] is like a tree without roots. The present coalition's instability outweighs its stability, and therefore the validity of its decisions does not meet the public's test. This government is a Swiss cheese in which the holes overshadow the cheese."
Sharon's associates admitted yesterday that if the Likud "rebels" vote against the budget, and Shas does not join the coalition, the prime minister might have no choice but to call elections. The "rebels" are planning to decide how they will vote only tomorrow, shortly before the budget's scheduled first reading. But Sharon's circle is hopeful that at least some will opt to rejoin the party fold, citing the fact that in yesterday's no-confidence motions, which took place before the vote on the new government, the rebels supported the premier.
