Netanyahu, Livnat Support Sharon's Disengagement Plan

Decisions by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by Education Minister Limor Livnat to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan increase the chances that the initiative will be approved by the Likud's May 2 referendum, and subsequently by the cabinet.

The two Likud ministers reached their decisions Saturday night, ahead of the government meeting yesterday. Livnat and Netanyahu were persuaded to back the plan partly because of Sharon's promises that the route of the separation fence will include settlement blocs, and that the fence will be completed prior to the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Minister Meir Sheetrit also announced yesterday that he supports the plan.

Thus far, the strategy devised by Sharon and his aides to promote the disengagement initiative has been successful. Bush's statement last week has produced a rise in public support for the separation plan (as evidenced by opinion polls), and also an increase in support for the plan among cabinet ministers.

While the riddle of Netanyahu's and Livnat's positions was solved yesterday, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom's stance remains a mystery. Shalom has repeatedly postponed dates set for disclosure of his position on the plan. Since Sharon's return from his trip to Washington last week, the foreign minister has held a number of consultations; yesterday he was in contact with some of Sharon's aides.

Sharon naturally wants to recruit as much support for his disengagement plan as he can. However, now that Netanyahu, Livnat and Sheetrit have evinced support for the plan, the issue of Shalom's position has become less critical. As one of the prime minister's aides put it: Shalom's worth dropped several points yesterday.

Shalom's office indicated last night that the foreign minister is expected to announce his position on the prime minister's plan next Tuesday.

As things stand now, the following Likud ministers support the disengagement plan: Shaul Mofaz, Ehud Olmert, Benjamin Netanyahu, Limor Livnat, Tzipi Livni, Meir Sheetrit and Gideon Ezra. Likud ministers who oppose the plan are Uzi Landau, Yisrael Katz, Natan Sharansky, Danny Naveh and Tzachi Hanegbi.

Netanyahu, who endured blistering attacks yesterday from right-wing Likud members and members of the Yesha council of Jewish settlers, said that he decided to support the initiative because the three preconditions he listed have been met: Israel, after the disengagement, will continue to control crossing terminals; the United States has issued a declaration opposing the right of Palestinian refugee return to Israel; and settlement blocs will be incorporated within the route planned for the separation fence.

"I have serious criticism of the disengagement plan and I definitely understand my party colleagues who oppose it," Livnat said yesterday. "We should remember that this decision can be reversed, if the need arises. I want to strengthen the prime minister."