Labor to grant 'safety net' to Sharon in no-confidence votes

The opposition Labor Party has decided to grant Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's troubled ruling coalition a "safety net" by abstaining in the no-confidence votes slated for Monday evening. The decision follows the cabinet's approval Sunday of the prime minister's modified disengagement plan.

Labor Chairman Shimon Peres has said that there are no plans at present for a unity government, but senior Labor lawmaker Haim Ramon hinted that a future coalition with the Likud was a real possibility.

Labor was originally planning a no-confidence motion of its own Monday, but decided to withdraw it, making a policy decision not to do anything to jeopardize a disengagement from Gaza.

The question of Labor's joining the government arose in Labor talks Sunday, but party chairman MK Shimon Peres emphasized that this was not at issue. Peres requested that Monday's monthly briefing meeting with Sharon be postponed, explaining that the timing could be misinterpreted as a negotiation for bringing Labor into the government.

"We have not been invited to join the government and we are not inviting ourselves," Peres said.

Peres added that the cabinet's decision seems more like a breather for the Likud, and that this is sad for the country in two respects: the manner in which the decision was passed and the absence of any timetable for evacuation. "Perhaps the Likud has time, but the country hasn't," he said

Senior Labor MK Haim Ramon indicated Monday that a future alliance with the Likud was possible. The disengagement concept, Ramon said, originated with Labor. "Sharon and all of those who support this are 'new immigrants' in this regard, and I welcome them for this, because this is truly an unprecedented, historic act."

If Likud policies are close to those of Labor, and talks begin toward a unity government, "I hope that the negotiations will yield positive results, and that there will a Knesset majority for a government that will finally take the state of Israel and the people of Israel out of Gaza."

Arab factions to back no-confidence
The three Arab legislative factions are to support the no-confidence votes. MK Ahmed Tibi said Sunday, "This government is the worst, and we have but one option, and that is to topple it. To this end, we will even support the no-confidence motion submitted by Shas."

Shas is pushing hard for the support of the far-right National Union. It may also win the backing of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism.

A number of rebel Likud legislators may abstain.

The Yahad faction will meet Monday morning to decide on whether to support Sharon in the no-confidence vote, after the cabinet vote on the disengagement plan received harsh criticism from faction members.

Faction chair MK Zahava Gal-On will recommend not supporting "what's left of the disengagement plan."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/436156.html