(Israeli politics:) Elyashiv, Barak support referendum (on Gaza disengagement)

Feb. 7, 2005 12:38 | Updated Feb. 7, 2005 18:40
Elyashiv, Barak support referendum
By GIL HOFFMAN, NINA GILBERT, YAAKOV KATZ

Degel Hatorah's preeminent halachic authority Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv said Monday that he would support the Disengagement Implementation Bill if it includes a national referendum.

Elyashiv's statement comes a day after the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee spent a day heatedly debating making the bill contingent upon the results of a national referendum, as long it goes hand in hand with a new basic law limiting such a referendum to relinquishing territory, and not to any other issues.

Despite the nod by Elyashiv in favor of a referendum on ceding territory, at present there is still no majority in the Knesset to legislate a basic law that would legalize and set democratic procedures for the poll.

Shas, the Labor Party, Shinui, Yahad, the three Arab parties, and Agudat Yisrael oppose a referendum on disengagement, for a total of 64 MKs. At least one-third of the 40-MK Likud faction also opposes referendum. Most of the Likud opponents are close allies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. As a result, a change in the position of the 11-MK Shas faction would not necessarily be enough to get a referendum proposal approved.

MK Michael Eitan (Likud), chairman of the Knesset Law Committee, has drafted a proposal for a basic law on referendums, and wants to advance it as soon as there is a majority to get it approved.

The 13-member group of Likud "rebels" has also threatened to vote against the 2005 state budget bill unless Sharon were to declare a referendum by then. The Knesset would be dissolved if a budget were not approved by March 31.

National Religious Party MK Zevulun Orlev welcomed Elyashiv's decision, calling it a "significant breakthrough in creating a majority in the Knesset for referendum." He said he was sure that a referendum on disengagement would be the only way to prevent a civil war, violence and refusal of orders."

But Shinui MK Roni Brizon said that if Elyashiv wanted a referendum he should "first hold one on enlisting yeshiva students." He said he hoped that Sharon would finally realize that the haredim cannot be relied on for anything. "They always want to get everything and not give anything in return while using all kinds of rabbinical excuses," he said.

Shinui MK Reshef Cheyne said it was expected that the haredim would "put a knife in Sharon's back" on the eve of the Sharm e-Sheikh summit. He said Sharon should reconsider the establishment of a Zionist national unity government that supports the disengagement plan.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Ehud Barak said Monday that in principle he is in favor of holding a national referendum over the Gaza Strip disengagement plan but that the plan's current timetable does not allow for such a move.

Meeting with members of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip in their Jerusalem office Monday, Barak, while dismissing the possibility of a referendum, called for general elections immediately following the implementation of the evacuation plan. Council chief Benzi Lieberman rejected Barak's assessment stating it would be possible to hold two national referendums under the current timetable.

Head of the Hebron Regional Council Zviki Bar-Hai said he was not surprised to hear Barak voice support for a national referendum.

"He knows that in order to be suitable to become prime minister you need to be willing to represent all of society," Bar-Hai said. "The reason [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon is against a referendum is because he is undemocratic and is not suitable to be prime minister."

Degel Hatorah (Torah Flag) is a religious party that is part of the current coalition government together with Likud, Labour, and Agudat Yisrael. They were part of United Torah Judaism until that religious coalition split over the issue of taking portfolios in the current government. Degel Hatorah holds two seats in the current Knesset.

I support a referendum to throw Sharon and the rest of the politicians out of their homes and give them to Arab terrorists. I would also favor Sharon being held under administrative detention along with his crooked sons until he confesses to his financial wrongdoing, just as he did to the father of Shelhevet Pas.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.