Likud leader orders exodus from Sharon govt
Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his Cabinet ministers to quit Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s government today.
The ministers – including foreign minister Silvan Shalom – will hand in their letters of resignation at Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, says Ofir Akunis, Netanyahu’s spokesman.
Sharon is expected to appoint new Cabinet ministers from his centre-ground Kadima party to replace the outgoing Likud ministers. Israeli radio reported it was likely that Shimon Peres would be appointed foreign minister.
Netanyahu was elected last month to head the Likud Party after Sharon left the hardline faction and formed a new centre party.
Despite reported opposition from Likud Cabinet ministers, Netanyahu followed through today on a pledge to leave Sharon’s government if elected to lead Likud.
Sharon’s appointments to the Cabinet after the Likud ministers leave will give an idea of what a future Sharon-led government would look like. Opinion polls forecast a landslide victory for Sharon’s Kadima party.
