Home > Netanyahu announces his resignation from gov’t
Wars and conflicts International Governments
By Yossi Verter
In a dramatic step following cabinet ratification of the first phase of the disengagement plan, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday announced his resignation from the government, citing his opposition to the pullout.
"We have reached the moment of truth today," Netanyahu wrote in a letter he placed on the cabinet table before abruptly leaving the ministers’ weekly session. "There is a way to achieve peace and security, but a unilateral withdrawal under fire and with nothing in return is certainly not the way."
Netanyahu has often criticized the disengagement, but had resisted right-wing calls that he resign from the government to force a crisis over the issue.
Bolstered by the votes of the Labor Party, the cabinet gave the green light to evacuation of the first group of settlements in the Gaza Strip, in line with a prior decision requiring formal ratification of each phase of the disengagement plan.
The vote was 17-5, with Likud cabinet ministers Limor Livnat, Danny Naveh, Yisrael Katz, Tzachi Hanegbi joining Netanyahu in opposition.
"I am not prepared to be a partner to a move which ignores reality, and proceeds blindly toward turning [the Gaza Strip] into a base fopr Islamic terrorism which will threaten the state," Netanyahu wrote in the letter whose text was obtained by Israel Radio.
Netanyahu called the disengagement "an irresponsible step which will endanger Israel’s security, split the people, institute the principle of return to the 1967 borders, and in the future, endanger Jerusalem as well."
The Sunday government decision states that, upon assessment of the situation, there is no reason to change the decision about the evacuation of settlements the cabinet approved in February.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the cabinet that the disengagement would be implemented on time, and that he was "not concerned over those who vote against."
Isolated settlements first to be evacuated
The settlements in the first phase are the isolated enclaves of Netzarim, Kfar Darom and Morag. Next week, just before the beginning of implementation of the disengagement, the government is expected to approve evacuation of the Gush Katif region, with ratification of the northern Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank enclaves to follow.
Earlier on Sunday, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz slammed Netanyahu for the finance minister’s expected ’No’ vote against the evacuation.
Scoring Netanyahu for "zig-zagging" on the issue, Mofaz said "You cannot dither in the wind every morning anew and say ’My opinion’s changed and now it’s different.’"
Forum posts
8 August 2005, 05:29
Good! I didn’t even read the article, but if Netanyahu is out of government, HIP, HIP, HOORAY! He’s the biggest prick in the Middle East. If he’s against the Gaza pullout, it’s purely grandstanding to create more chaos. SCREW HIM. Don’t let the door bump your behind on the way out, Benji!
8 August 2005, 10:14
Watch the disgusting Israeli murderers and thiefs turn to Netanyahu as their new hero. The Israeli fuckers love the vicious murdering policies of the likes of Netanyahu, he will run again and be elected by the depraved citizens of Israel.
Netanyahu is no fool, he knows that "his" people are vicious thugs and will line up behind him like the Germans worshiped Hitler. Hitler had his holocaust and Netanyahu who is jealous of Hitler wants his own holocaust to outshine Hitler and he will get all the support he needs to win in that hell hole called Israel.
I can promise you that this is a political move by Netanyahu who knows that the majority of Israelis are blood thirsty warmongers who want to steal their neighbors land and lives and to rewrite history to make themselves out to be the poor victims of something that happened 70 years ago and all the while they have been doing for 70 years themselves.
8 August 2005, 22:49
Maybe read this:
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index795.htm