Sharon warns his party against a Gaza no vote
With polls forecasting defeat, beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned party members that if they vote against his Gaza withdrawal plan, they may vote themselves out of power.
Sharon stopped short of saying he will resign if he loses, but said last night he considered the referendum a personal vote of confidence.
He portrayed his opponents in his Likud party as extremists who he said use “lies, obscene language and deceitful propaganda” in their campaign.
The prime minister spoke after polls reflected a dramatic change among the 193,000 eligible Likud voters before Sunday’s referendum.
In recent weeks, supporters of the plan had maintained a lead, but latest polls indicated a clear advantage for the opponents.
A poll in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper today said 47% of Likud members would vote against the plan, compared to 40.5% in favour.
Just two weeks ago, a similar poll found 54% in favour.
The referendum marks the first time a vote is being held in Israel on an issue that has divided the nation for decades: whether to give up land captured in the 1967 Mideast War.
Under the plan, Sharon would withdraw troops and 7,500 settlers in the Gaza Strip and evacuate four small settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinians suspect Sharon is giving up Gaza to tighten his hold on much of the West Bank, and the prime minister’s critics in Israel believe he proposed the plan in part to deflect attention from two corruption probes against him.
In recent weeks, he has increasingly attacked his former core constituents. The settlers, he said yesterday, represent a minority in Israel and must not be allowed to impose their will on the country.
A “no” vote is a vote against the prime minister, he told Israel Radio. “You can’t be for me, but be against my plan,” he said, addressing Likud members.
Painting a gloomy picture, he said a defeat of his plan would sour relations with the United States and deal a serious blow to the Israeli economy.
Sharon raised the possibility of calling new elections if he loses. Another option is to reshuffle his Cabinet by bringing in the moderate Labour Party, a strong supporter of the plan.
It remains unclear whether Sharon would take the plan to his Cabinet and parliament for approval, even if he loses the referendum. He initially said he would be bound by the Likud vote, but has backtracked in recent days.
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