Ali
08-08-2005, 03:44 AM
JERUSALEM -- Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the highest-ranking figures in Israel's government, quit yesterday to protest next week's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and, sometime afterward, from parts of the West Bank, saying it would create an ''Islamic base" on Israel's doorstep.
Netanyahu tendered his resignation toward the end of a dramatic meeting of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Cabinet in which ministers, by a vote of 17 to 5, gave troops the green light to begin on Aug. 17 dismantling three of the 25 settlements slated for evacuation. Further evacuations will also be preceded by Cabinet voting.
The resignation gave a last-minute boost to Jewish settlers trying to prevent the pullout, even as it sent markets reeling. Settler leaders predicted that other ministers would quit the Cabinet, forcing Sharon to call an early election.
But analysts said the Israeli leader was still firmly in control and would carry out the withdrawal on time.
''I'm not willing to be a party to a step that endangers our security, divides the nation, and reinforces the principle of withdrawing to the 1967 lines," Netanyahu, who is Sharon's main rival in the ruling Likud party, said during a news conference in Jerusalem hours after quitting. He said he had been ''torn inside" for months but decided he did not want to go down in history as an accomplice to the unilateral withdrawal. ''A leader must ask himself . . . 'What do you represent?' " he said. More... (http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/08/08/netanyahu_quits_over_israeli_pullout?mode=PF)<slaps forehead and groans loudly> Just when you think it might actually get better, along comes a Politician, beating the Terrorist Gong to win support for his own political success.Netanyahu, a former prime minister, had stepped up his criticism of the withdrawal in recent weeks. Though he raised his hand in favor of the plan in a Cabinet meeting last year, he has abstained or opposed it in several recent votes.
During the news conference, Netanyahu said he put off his resignation until yesterday to complete what he called ''historic reforms" in the economy. But analysts said his timing had more to do with party politics.
The 55-year-old Netanyahu is expected to compete against Sharon, 77, for leadership of Likud before the next election, which is scheduled for late next year but could be held sooner.
Since Sharon has alienated many right-wing supporters with the withdrawal plan, Netanyahu was trying to position himself as the true candidate of the nationalist camp.
''It's largely political," said political scientist Shmuel Sandler, referring to Netanyahu's motive for leaving the government. ''If the withdrawal turns into a big mess, Netanyahu has a chance. If not, he'll look like the bad guy.Great! Stir up the political pressure cooker and increase the chances of the plan failing (which is what is happening, now that the Settlers have such a high-profile backer), all so that one guy can win votes.
Sound familiar? :mad:
Netanyahu tendered his resignation toward the end of a dramatic meeting of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Cabinet in which ministers, by a vote of 17 to 5, gave troops the green light to begin on Aug. 17 dismantling three of the 25 settlements slated for evacuation. Further evacuations will also be preceded by Cabinet voting.
The resignation gave a last-minute boost to Jewish settlers trying to prevent the pullout, even as it sent markets reeling. Settler leaders predicted that other ministers would quit the Cabinet, forcing Sharon to call an early election.
But analysts said the Israeli leader was still firmly in control and would carry out the withdrawal on time.
''I'm not willing to be a party to a step that endangers our security, divides the nation, and reinforces the principle of withdrawing to the 1967 lines," Netanyahu, who is Sharon's main rival in the ruling Likud party, said during a news conference in Jerusalem hours after quitting. He said he had been ''torn inside" for months but decided he did not want to go down in history as an accomplice to the unilateral withdrawal. ''A leader must ask himself . . . 'What do you represent?' " he said. More... (http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/08/08/netanyahu_quits_over_israeli_pullout?mode=PF)<slaps forehead and groans loudly> Just when you think it might actually get better, along comes a Politician, beating the Terrorist Gong to win support for his own political success.Netanyahu, a former prime minister, had stepped up his criticism of the withdrawal in recent weeks. Though he raised his hand in favor of the plan in a Cabinet meeting last year, he has abstained or opposed it in several recent votes.
During the news conference, Netanyahu said he put off his resignation until yesterday to complete what he called ''historic reforms" in the economy. But analysts said his timing had more to do with party politics.
The 55-year-old Netanyahu is expected to compete against Sharon, 77, for leadership of Likud before the next election, which is scheduled for late next year but could be held sooner.
Since Sharon has alienated many right-wing supporters with the withdrawal plan, Netanyahu was trying to position himself as the true candidate of the nationalist camp.
''It's largely political," said political scientist Shmuel Sandler, referring to Netanyahu's motive for leaving the government. ''If the withdrawal turns into a big mess, Netanyahu has a chance. If not, he'll look like the bad guy.Great! Stir up the political pressure cooker and increase the chances of the plan failing (which is what is happening, now that the Settlers have such a high-profile backer), all so that one guy can win votes.
Sound familiar? :mad: