Resignation of the Israeli Likud ministers
Israel, Politics, 1/13/2006

Three out of four ministers Israeli ministers from the Likud party resigned from the Israeli government, in a step that might have direct impact on the performance of the government which will run the country until the legislative elections on March 28th.

After hesitation at the beginning, the Israeli minister of agriculture Israel Kats, the health minister Dani Nafe, and the minister of education Limore Lifnat agreed to resign in order to seperate the Likud party from the policies pursued now by the Israeli Kadima party; Kadima Party was recently created by Sharon upon splitting from Likud.

The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom did not submit his resignation but he is expected to do so in the weekly meeting for the Israeli government on Sunday. These resignations come in implementation of the decision by the leader of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision which was postponed because of the health condition of Sharon. Observers consider that the resignation aims at supporting Likud's elections campaign as it gives Netanyahu a greater freedom to criticize the policies of the current government.

Netanyahu handed over the resignation to the secretariat of the cabinet and these will be effective within 48 hours and it is expected that Olmert will appoint four other ministers from the Kadima party.

Olmert who is expected to assume the leadership of Kadima party, is expected to receive a new impetus after opinion polls showed he will beat his rivals in the general elections even without the presence of Sharon.

Previous Stories:
  Rice says January Palestinian elections a positive move   (1/12/2006)
  US view on Israeli intervention in Palestinian elections   (1/11/2006)
  Israeli PM: Palestinians in Jerusalem can vote, but not for Hamas   (1/10/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search