Minister Sharansky quits over pullout !!!!!

[Ophra]

Minister of Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs submits his resignation to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; Sharansky, known as a staunch opponent of upcoming pullout, is first minister to resign over the plan
By Attila Somfalvi

JERUSALEM - Minister of Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs Natan Sharansky submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Monday morning.

Sharansky's resignation follows his objection to the upcoming Gaza Strip and northern West Bank pullout. The minister submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister's Office as Sharon himself was on his way there.

Sharansky apparently informed the prime minister of his intention to quit in a meeting during the Pesach holiday. However, no resignation date was provided at the time.

The resigning minister says he believes in the need for democratic reforms in the Palestinian Authority in the framework of the peace process, but added the disengagement plan is not part of the required approach.

First minister to resign over pullout

Notably, Sharansky was the last Likud minister objecting to the pullout plan to remain in the government, after other Likud ministers and deputy ministers opposed to the disengagement were fired.

Still, Sharansky remained a staunch opponent of the plan and invested great efforts to act against it. However, Sharon was not quick to fire him, partly as a result of American President George W. Bush's high opinion of Sharansky.

In addition, Sharansky apparently did not constitute a serious enough political threat on Sharon to prompt his dismissal.

Monday's resignation marks the first time a government minister quits the government out of his own accord in protest of the disengagement plan.

Right – wing Knesset Member Effie Eitam (Hitchabrut) said in response to Sharansky's resignation “His resignation constitutes a major moral victory for the anti-disengagement camp.”

“Sharansky has become a global symbol in the struggle for human rights, human liberty and the advancement of democracy,” he said.

But politicians on the left did not view Sharansky's move in the same light.

Knesset Member Roman Bronfman (Yachad) said “His resignation constitutes his and his party’s ideological and political bankruptcy.”

“A human rights activist under the Soviet regime has turned here into a fighter for the occupation. Sharansky, who was elected by the new immigrants’ votes, in fact never represented their interests, but rather represented the interests of the settlers and their life work,” he said.

Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...080020,00.html

[KettleWhistle]

“A human rights activist under the Soviet regime has turned here into a fighter for the occupation. Sharansky, who was elected by the new immigrants’ votes, in fact never represented their interests, but rather represented the interests of the settlers and their life work,” he said.

Wrong. He was fighting for equal rights FOR JEWS, and he still is. And he does represent the interests of the olim, territorial integrity of Israel and opposition to the Arab occupation of our native lands being one them.

[wellofvow]

I do not invest a large amount of passion in politics. This said, IMO it is one of the biggest tragedies of our time that Sharansky is so misunderstood. I voted for his party in the last election, and felt that I was about the only person in the city who did. It was interesting that some months later, walking home from Kol Nidre, that I met 3 friends of mine, also former American women, and each said that she also had voted for Sharansky's party. It is weird how this former Russian man can reach former American women. He is one of the most honest people in the morass of Israeli politics, and - perhaps because of this? - one of the most misunderstood. Is he Ben Gurion reborn?

The Israeli voter is truly one of the most moronic entities taking up space.

[KettleWhistle]

Ben-Gurion reborn? Sorry, but Ben-Gurion was no man of integrity. He was merely a benevolent dictator, for the most part, when such a man was needed. Sharansky isn't a Russian man, nor has he ever been one. He was a politically active Jew, fighting for Jews against the oppression from the Russians. But, IMO, he isn't much of a sleazy politician, and so he wouldn't agree to unacceptable compromises. It is just too bad that Israel doesn't have a representative government. If there was one, there wouldn't be such a mess in Israeli politics.

[Womble]

Sharansky had good intentions, but his party was hijacked from the get go by people like Marina Solodkina, who wanted it to become a "Russian" Shas". Let's face it, a man like Sharansky stands no chance in the snake pit that is politics. Lieberman is by far a more potent representative for the aliyah.