jerusalem | The Knesset on Wednesday, Nov. 3, approved the first of three readings of the disengagement plan’s implementation bill, which includes compensation for settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip and north West Bank.
Under the disengagement plan, Israel is to completely evacuate the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank by the end of 2005. The legislation gives Prime Minister Ariel Sharon the authority to issue a decree setting a deadline for the pullout after the Cabinet decides on the evacuation of the settlements, which have been divided into four groups. The government has set March 1 as the deadline for the Knesset to pass the law.
The Israeli government is budgeting approximately $500 million for disengagement in 2005, but costs are expected to rise to as high as one billion dollars after the Israeli Defense Forces incur redeployment costs.
Settlers are to receive an average compensation of $300,000, with an extra $30,000 bonus for those who settle in the Negev or Galilee. Farmers
are also to be entitled to alternative land in those areas and compensation for the value of their busi-nesses.
At press time, the Knesset decided to delay the Nov. 3 planned vote on the controversial budget and to convene a special session Thursday, Nov. 4, to continue budget negotiations.
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still unable to secure a majority for his budget plan and his threats to secede from Likud after holding talks with coalition and opposition parties throughout the day.
If the vote is to be delayed until next week, this could present complications because Netanyahu has threatened to resign by Monday, Nov. 8, unless Sharon gives in to his ultimatum to hold a national referendum on the disengagement plan.
Sharon called Labor leader Sharon Peres on Nov. 3 and asked for a list of changes in the budget that would enable Labor to vote in favor of it or at least abstain. Peres replied that instead, Sharon should delay the vote until next week. Peres said that Sharon did not rule out that possibility.
“I don’t see how to compile such a list in so little time,” Peres said “If Bibi [Netanyahu] has a majority, he should pass the budget. If he doesn’t have a majority and he needs us, he will need a different budget. We don’t want to topple the government but our vote is not automatic either.”
Sharon’s associates have said that the budget could be turned into a motion of confidence, which could force Labor to vote for it.
Sharon and Netanyahu met in a forum of 15 Treasury and Prime Minister’s Office officials on Nov. 3.
“The prime minister intends to tell Netanyahu that he wants him in the government, but don’t expect him to agree to Netanyahu’s demand for a referendum and don’t expect him to use the word ‘please,'” a senior Sharon associate said.
Sharon’s advisers have been saying for weeks that no decisions will be made about whether to hold a referendum or whether to expand the coalition until after the two bills are passed. Sharon is to convene his closest advisers at his Negev ranch on Thursday, Nov. 4, for what is expected to be a fateful meeting.