National Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Tourism Minister Binyamin (Benny) Elon submitted their letters of resignation today from the national unity government. The move came after the three parties that make up the National Union/Yisrael Beiteinu faction yesterday approved the departure of their seven Knesset members from the coalition, leaving Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government with seventy-five Knesset seats.

Last minute efforts by Sharon and other Likud Party members to convince Lieberman and Elon to remain in the government proved unsuccessful. The faction had threatened to leave the government before, but had withdrawn its threats at the last moment. The ministers' resignations go into effect in 48 hours, but political analysts believe chances that they will change their decision are slim.

Coalition chairman MK Zeev Boim (Likud) said it was ironic

"The Sharon government is slipping down the diplomatic slope and is ready to endanger the future of Israel for… a fake quiet" - Tourism Minister Benny Elon

that the faction's decision to abandon the coalition government came while the IDF was engaged in what has been called "the most exhaustive military activity since the war in Lebanon." Israeli forces took control Tuesday of most of the West Bank city of Ramallah - Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's political base and the source of many recent suicide bombing attacks. The right-wing ministers had frequently called for harsher military actions against the Palestinians and for the toppling of the PA.

After meeting with Sharon on Monday, MK Uri Arieli (National Union) charged, "The Prime Minister has succumbed to international pressure and has given up on the seven days of quiet (as a prerequisite to negotiations). Whoever gives in to international pressure once, will do so a second and a third time as well."

Faction members were also furious with Sharon's decision to rescind Israel's travel ban on Arafat. "We don't even believe in this arrest of [former Israeli Tourism Minister Rechavam] Ze'evi's killers," Lieberman said yesterday. "How could you reach this decision alone?" he reportedly asked Sharon.

Elon charged that the Sharon government is "slipping down the diplomatic slope and is ready to endanger the future of Israel for quiet - a fake quiet." Lieberman added that Sharon was himself responsible for the faction's decision to quit the coalition by "choosing the Left," in reference to the prime minister's apparent siding with Labor Party ministers and rejecting the right-wing's more hardline policies.

The departure of the faction from the coalition was well received by left-wing and center parties, and lessened the chances of an imminent split of the Labor Party. Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, who had in the past been a proponent for leaving the coalition government, is now urging fellow Labor Party members to remain.

The departure of the National Union/Yisrael Beiteinu faction led to speculation as to how long Sharon's coalition would last. A Likud official told Haaretz: "It's difficult to predict, but it looks like the beginning of the end." He said that if Sharon "fails to get a cease-fire, his political demise will be fast. If he succeeds, he could improve his standing in the public and in the Likud."

Likud party members critical of Sharon's policies
Sharon was sharply attacked by members of his own Likud party yesterday, at a meeting convened to discuss the imminent resignation of the right-wing bloc from the coalition.

Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau asked Sharon "Where are you headed? Who are your security advisers? Why are you not sitting with the Likud Ministers for advice?" Lieberman said that Israel had to "strike harder at the Palestinians," but Sharon replied, "I will not lead this nation into war."

Education Minister Limor Livnat said that Israel was sending the Palestinians "a double message. On the one hand, we're conducting harsh military operations; and on the other hand, we are making concessions in our diplomatic conditions."

Sharon dismissed the criticism of his policies by claiming that he was making decisions based on the reality of the situation, which has changed dramatically with the recent escalation of violence. He said that he had shifted his goals to focus on efforts to achieve an immediate cease-fire and to help Israelis regain their lost sense of security.

Right-wing demonstrators: "A strong nation defeats terror"
A reported 80,000 Israelis gathered last night in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, voicing their support for IDF activities and demanding an end to the brutal wave of terror on Israelis. The rally, organized by the Yesha Council of settlements in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, was meant to be apolitical, and no politicians were invited to speak.

Rabbis and community leaders took to the podium, in calls of support for the Israeli Defense Forces. Speakers claimed that "terrorists don't distinguish between Jews in Tel Aviv and Jews in Netzarim." Calls were heard for strong actions against the Palestinian Authority and against its chairman, Yasser Arafat.

Organizers of the event called the gathering an assembly. "This is not a demonstration, because we are not against anything," they told Maariv. Organizers stressed that the rally was not organized against Sharon or government policies.

Brig.-Gen. Effie Eitam (res.) said the rally was "a gathering of Jews who know how to internalize their spiritual strengths and stand united during trying times. We came to tell the Jewish Nation to gather it's strength for the difficult times and great tests ahead."

Over 1,600 Police and Border Patrol forces were on hand to provide security for the event. Organizers said they were pleasantly surprised at the large turnout, as they had feared security concerns would keep the crowds away. Most of the participants in the rally were bussed in from settlements in the territories.

Left-wing Knesset members criticized the choice of location for the right-wing rally. Opposition leader Yossi Sarid (Meretz) said, "The nationalist right-wing in Israel would have done better to chose a different place for its demonstration, and not the square bearing the name of Yitzhak Rabin." Organizers said the square was chosen in order to facilitate the largest possible crowd.

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