PM Sharon Threatens: Support P.A. State Or Leave Government

Arutz 7 ^ | Dec. 23, 2002 | staff

[Nachum]

Two of the more right-wing Likud ministers, Public Security Minister Uzi Landau and Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, say they may not be able to be ministers in the upcoming government. Landau said today that he would forego a ministerial post if it comes with having to support a Palestinian state, as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appears to be demanding.

Sharon, meeting with his fellow Likud ministers yesterday, asked them to support his positions, including no opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. When HaNegbi replied that he does not intend to represent a line that "stands in 180-degree opposition to my ideological position," and that he "has not been a member of the Likud for over two decades in order to find myself supporting a Palestinian state," Sharon said he would not agree to have ministers in his government act contrary to his own positions. HaNegbi asked Sharon not to threaten, and the latter closed the discussion by saying he should have the ministers over one evening so that he can explain his position and convince them. Other current ministers who oppose a PA state are Limor Livnat, Danny Naveh, and Ruby Rivlin.

IMRA notes that Sharon's Likud party last week confirmed its party platform explicitly opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Aides to Sharon say that his frequent references to a PA state are designed to stem the tide of centrist-leaning voters who are leaving the Likud in favor of the anti-religious but slightly hawkish Shinui party. The aides say that Sharon has received word of "very worrisome surveys" indicating this trend - though they did not mention that that which draws centrist voters might scare away right-wing voters. Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna also appears to be afraid of Shinui. He told a crowd in Be'er Sheva last night that Shinui is a "contrary" party: "They're anti-Arab, anti-kibbutzim, anti-moshavim, anti-religious, anti-everything... I don't know what [Shinui leader] Tommy Lapid stands *for.*"

[Nachum]

U.S.Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) was quoted in The Forward on Nov. 29, 2002 as saying that that those who oppose the creation of a Palestinian Arab state will "probably be perceived [as] a bunch of jerks and idiots."

(from the Zionists of America site)

[trebb]

I say they should build the Palestinians a nice community complete with security gates and walls to keep the riff-raff out. Then, take care of the problem once they have it contained inside the walls.