Israel Matzav

Four Likud ministers have decided not to consent to Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu's Wednesday night demand to quit the Cabinet.

Education Minister Limor Livnat, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Dani Naveh and Yisrael Katz met late Wednesday to consult on their next move after Netanyahu ordered them to hand in their resignations from the cabinet Thursday morning. The four reportedly decided to snub Netanyahu's order, thus increasing tensions within the party.

"Netanyahu has gone crazy. He's returned to methods of intrigue and scheming that characterized him in the past," a close associate of one of the Likud ministers told Army Radio.

Netanyahu decided late Wednesday to implement a decision he made a week ago, to have the ministers quit the cabinet. The decision had been suspended by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's sudden stroke.

Netanyahu said that because Kadima has returned to political activity, there was no reason to delay the ministers' departure. He said the Likud must present an alternative to Kadima's policies, which he warned would lead to the division of Jerusalem.

The decision was seen as a power play against the ministers, who had hoped to remain in the cabinet until the March 28 elections. Netanyahu used Kadima's recent political maneuvers as a justification to take the party out of Sharon's coalition and assume the position of opposition leader.

"We always said that Bibi reacted with hysteria and this is further proof," a source close to Sharon said in response.

... Sources close to Netanyahu expressed concern on Wednesday night that the central committee members would not elect a balanced list and that Livnat would end up being the only woman elected to a realistic position. [It sounds to me like Netanyahu - who was elected overwhelmingly as Likud leader ahead of Shalom with the other rebels against him having dropped out of the race - would be better off with a primary in which all Likud members can vote and not just the (corrupt) central committee. CiJ]

... Sharon's associates said many central committee members told them they would leave the Likud to join Kadima shortly after the vote. They said they stayed in the party because they wanted to use their votes to try to prevent Sharon's political opponents from returning to the Knesset. [Democracy in action. /sarc CiJ]

...

"No one can say how many people will leave the Likud, but based on what I am hearing from Likud leaders, a process will start after the Likud race of people leaving to Kadima, including key activists, branch heads and mayors," said Eli Levy, the head of the Lehavim Regional Council, who left Likud for Kadima.

Netanyahu's spokesman said he was not concerned about a mass exodus from the Likud. He said that if a good list was chosen, the Likud's support would rise.

The candidates running on Thursday with ties to English speaking countries include New Rochelle, New York native Mitchell Barak, who is seeking a slot reserved for a new immigrant; Brooklyn native Yossi Fuchs, who is running for a slot reserved for a young candidate; British native Drora Galloway, who is running for a slot reserved for a woman; and Betar movement international head Danny Danon, a former emissary in Miami, who is running for a slot reserved for moshav residents. [Anyone know if that is Yossi Fuchs from Har Nof? CiJ]

Update (10:33 AM): This whole thing sounds like more seedy politics:

Education Minister Limor Livnat, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Health Minister Dan Naveh and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz had decided instead to hand in their resignations on Sunday, despite Netanyahu's warning that his constituents would not support them when voting for Likud's Knesset list.

Katz, however, decided to rescind his decision, and according to Israel Radio will hand in his resignation letter directly to Netanyahu later Thursday morning. Israeli law states though that the resignation of a minister can only be accepted if the minister personally hands in the resignation, and not through a second party. [What a gutsy move by Katz! /sarc CiJ]

Dan Naveh countered Netanyahu and called on Likud central committee members Thursday morning to, "select the best team that can best represent the Likud. I hope our decision to leave the government on Sunday will unify the party."

... A source close to the ministers called his ultimatum disrespectful, saying that it was made "unilaterally and without reciprocity," adding that Netanyahu did not even call to personally inform them of his demand. [Sounds like some of my children who get insulted when they're told - rather than being asked - to do something. CiJ]

... Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, according to the source, "believes that leaving the government is a mistake, and that it would weaken the Likud." [What do you expect from the guy who was Ariel Sharon's candidate to lead the Likud into a coalition with Kadima Achora? CiJ]

Update (4:35 PM): All the Likud ministers in the government except for Silvan Shalom have now given Netanyahu their resignations. Is this a portent of the future - that Netanyahu has a # 2 (that's the spot he gave Shalom) in his party who will be a thorn in his side as Peres was to Rabin? That seems likely....