Sharon: 1
Bibi: 0
Nobody likes a loser:
Sharon’s associates said the prime minister was furious with Netanyahu for trying to impose a national referendum on him as the price for the support of key ministers in the vote.
The maneuver failed because the National Religious Party gave Sharon a 14-day ultimatum on agreeing to a referendum – a threat that actually amounted to a period of grace…
“Netanyahu tried to undermine me,” Sharon angrily told confidants. “He should not act this way. In a democratic country, ministers cannot get away with such behavior.”…
Netanyahu had received poll results indicating that despite apparent overwhelming public support for disengagement, 70 percent of those who intend to vote would vote against the pullout if a referendum were held today.
The disengagment will be Sharon’s political end (and his legacy) whether he succeeds or not. It’s the same reason why war Presidents and war Prime Ministers often get ousted – the country is exhausted from battle and wants a return to normality. But this isn’t some budget vote – Sharon is playing on the stage of history, and history will judge him well for it.
