Likud Central Committee Backs Referendum on Expulsion Plan

Arutz 7 ^ | Mar 03, '05 | staff

[Nachum]

Calling backers of the referendum "extremists on the fringe" Sharon vows not to honor the central committee vote.

The Likud Central Committee, meeting tonight at the Tel Aviv fairgrounds, approved a resolution calling for legislation that would allow a national referendum on the government’s plan to expel Jews from their homes in Gaza and northern Samaria.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon attacked his critics at the meeting, calling them “extremists on the fringe.” Sharon said he had no intention of honoring the central committee vote and would not deviate from his expulsion plans that have won the approval of the government and the Knesset.

Sharon’s speech was interrupted several times by central committee members shouting for him to quit and call for new elections. Other members held up signs saying “Sharon go home.”

Both Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom and Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke out in favor of a referendum. Shalom said a referendum was necessary to prevent a civil war. “I am not proposing a referendum against the prime minister,” said Shalom. The referendum “is for national unity" and the unity of the Likud party, he explained.

Netanyahu said a referendum would “calm heated spirits.” “I have no doubt that a national referendum is the means – perhaps the only means – to stop the major internal danger that threatens us.”

[GeronL]

Hey Sharon, you just called your party extremist...

[familyop]

Civil affairs ping.

Hmmm...