Rebels in Ariel Sharon’s Likud Party declared on Wednesday that they will support his 2005 Budget, giving the prime minister a temporary lift in his efforts to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
The 13 rebels, who oppose the withdrawal, were threatening to vote against Sharon’s Budget in a parliamentary vote later in the day.
Failure to pass the Budget by March 31 would cause the government to collapse, endangering the Gaza pull-out plan, set to begin in July.
After a meeting on Wednesday, the hard-line rebels said they will support Sharon in Wednesday’s vote, but threatened to oppose him in two subsequent votes that are required to pass the Budget.
The rebels are demanding that Sharon hold a nationwide referendum on the plan to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements before carrying out the withdrawal.
”It was decided unanimously to support the Budget until the second and third readings,” said Yehiel Hazan, a leader of the hard-liners. ”We call on the prime minister to reconsider holding a referendum.”
Sharon has so far refused to hold a referendum, calling it a stalling tactic by opponents to the withdrawal. — Sapa-AP