Nov. 4, 2002 Sharon rejects Netanyahu demand for early elections By GIL HOFFMAN Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's conditions for joining the cabinet Monday, and has declared that he will continue efforts to form a narrow government without his Likud rival. Addressing his Likud party, Sharon praised Netanyahu's agreement in principle to join the government, but characterized the call for the new elections as irresponsible. Following a meeting between the two at the Prime Minister's Officeon Sunday, Netanyahu announced that he agreed to accept the foreign minister's post, provided the government goes to early elections to salvage Israel's ailing economy. Netanyahu reiterated his position of two years ago when he declined to run for the premiership that the Likud must go to new elections, which could double the party's size and permit the formation of a stable Likud-led government to implement economic reforms. "There is no way that Sharon will accept Netanyahu's offer," said the prime minister's closest ally in the cabinet, Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin. "Netanyahu has no right to impose such unacceptable terms. He cannot get away with saying yes and no at the same time." Rivlin said Sharon's government can last without Netanyahu until May, because the Labor Party is in no hurry for elections. He said declaring early elections now would be counterproductive at a time when Sharon is negotiating the formation of a new coalition that he hopes will survive until the original date set for the next general election, October 28, 2003. In television interviews on Channels 1 and 2, Netanyahu warned that a narrow government would be continually extorted by smaller factions. "The right thing to do is to go to elections now and get 40 mandates for the Likud," Netanyahu said. "We need to get rid of this Knesset that was elected two prime ministers ago in a different millennium." But, he added, "I am willing to help a temporary government counter the Iraqi threat and combat international pressure." Making it clear that he would handle things differently from former foreign minister Shimon Peres, Netanyahu outlined for Sharon other conditions related to fighting terrorism, including toppling Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, building a security fence on a secure border, and not permitting the formation of a Palestinian state. But Netanyahu said his top priority is saving Israel from an economic disaster, which he said could only be accomplished with new elections. "What will other issues matter to the state if the boat it is floating in sinks?" Netanyahu said. "I don't intend to fill the shoes or even one shoe of Shimon Peres. I hope the prime minister does the right thing. It's in his hands." Officials in the Prime Minister's Office said they do not understand why Netanyahu would announce that he is willing to join a narrow right-wing government, but at the same time try to topple it. They said Netanyahu's request was tantamount to asking Sharon to admit his government was a failure. A spokeswoman for Netanyahu said the former prime minister was merely reiterating conditions he spelled out for Sharon in a meeting at his Negev ranch on Friday. Netanyahu asked then for massive economic reforms and a stable government to implement them. However, such steps are possible only after a general election. Sharon told the cabinet that Netanyahu's talents will aid the country significantly in the struggle to defend itself in the international arena, making him a valuable asset to the government. Former foreign minister Shimon Peres slammed the prospective appointment, saying, "I would prefer to have a foreign minister who has a foreign policy." Peres revealed to Army Radio that representatives from the Prime Minister's Office invited him to become foreign minister in the narrow government before the position was offered to Netanyahu. Last week, Sharon's spokesman Arnon Perlman vehemently and repeatedly denied that Sharon offered the position to Peres. Construction and Housing Minister Natan Sharansky praised Netanyahu for conditionally accepting the position, saying that he is confident the former prime minister will have much to contribute to Israel's diplomatic struggle in the international arena. Meretz leader Yossi Sarid criticized the prospect of Netanyahu joining a government with Sharon and former IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz. "The government being formed now is a right-wing government with three left hands," Sarid said. "The man of the Temple Mount provocations is joining the man of the Western Wall tunnel provocations and the man who just finished being CGS and is already becoming a minister. Sharon, Netanyahu and Mofaz are the triangle that will disconnect us from the international community and strangle us." MK Avigdor Lieberman, of the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party, has demanded that Sharon form a narrow right-wing government after any new elections, as a condition for joining the government now. Sharon said Monday that he has every intention of forming a broad national unity government after elections. MK Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, leader of the Shinui party, has said that Shinui would join a narrow right-wing government, but only without the haredi parties. |
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