Ariel Sharon is losing public support for Gaza withdrawal pla

[Classical_Liberal]

Ariel Sharon is losing public support for Gaza withdrawal plan

MARK LAVIE

JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is losing ground in his hardline Likud party less than two weeks before a key vote on his plan to pull out of Gaza Strip and West Bank areas, according to an opinion poll published Thursday.

Taking on his critics, Sharon addressed the Israeli parliament Thursday to defend the plan. "Anyone who wants Israel to initiate and not be dragged, to lead and not be led, must support the disengagement plan," Sharon said. Sharon had decided to bring the so-called disengagement plan to the 200,000 members of his party for approval.

While not directly addressing the declining support in surveys, Sharon hinted in his parliamentary address that he would press for cabinet and parliamentary approval even if he loses his party vote. Initially, he had said the Likud referendum would be binding.

"The commitment we took upon ourselves, the members of the Likud and myself, to act according to the results of the referendum, is a public and moral duty, not a legal or binding duty," he add......

http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040422/CPW/31681027

[ugarte]

1. Why am I not surprised?

Having gotten what he wanted from lamebrained Bush, Sharon encounters a snag in pulling out of Gaza.

[bemildred]

2. Bush's promises are not worth squat. nt

[ugarte]

3. It's true

Sharon with Bush is like Don Corleone with Alzheimer Reagan.

[bemildred]

4. Heh, that's good.

This just get more baroque all the time.
Like watching a slow motion train wreck as someone else
here once said.