Netanyahu quits post
to protest Gaza pullout

JERUSALEM – Shocking many in the political arena here, Finance Minister Benjamin Neyanyahu has announced his resignation from the Israeli government in protest of the upcoming evacuation of Jewish communities in Gaza and parts of Samaria.

Netanyahu's move could precipitate a political crisis for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, prompting other ministers from Sharon's Likud to resign.

Just before Sharon's cabinet was set to vote on evacuating the first of Gaza's Jewish communities, Netanyahu placed his resignation letter on Sharon's desk and reportedly left the room.

''What do we get in exchange for the withdrawal?'' asked Netanyahu in his letter. ''What do we get in return for the uprooting of families and their children, homes, and graves? We’ll get an Islamic terror base. In recent months I hoped the government would open its eyes in the face of this clear reality and change course, but the opposite happened.''

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''A balanced government reflecting the will of the people in the last elections has turned into a government that automatically executes a policy that contradicts Likud principals and the mandate we received from our voters,'' Netanyahu wrote.

Netanyahu said he would further explain his motives in a press conference this evening. The Likud heavyweight had been a vocal opponent of the Gaza evacuation, and was under immense pressure from many of his supporters to resign.

George Birnbaum, Netanyahu's former chief of staff, told WND, ''Bibi (Netanyahu) clearly decided the dangerous precedent of unilaterally withdrawing from strategic territory under fire and for nothing in return is more important to him than the economic reforms he has been trying to implement as finance minister. Bibi has taken a bold step today by standing up against rewarding terror.''

Netanyahu's resignation may have in part been fueled by a possible upcoming split in the Likud party. Senior Likud sources told WND Sharon is planning to divide the party after the evacuation is carried out, leaving ministers who opposed the withdrawal to form their own faction and hoping to take with him many votes from the dovish Labor party.

Likud has traditionally opposed unilateral withdrawals. Labor, which forged the Oslo Accords and led intense peace negotiations with the Palestinians, is currently part of Sharon's unity coalition.

Said Birnbaum, ''There is a great chance Sharon might try to split off Likud, so those factions who wish to stay with Likud's ideological platform - which stands against the withdrawal - will need a leader. Bibi is ready to be that leader.''

Some analysts have contended a Netanyahu resignation would prompt other anti-withdrawal lawmakers in Sharon's Likud Party to quit the government.

Five Likud ministers, Netanyahu, Danny Naveh, Yisrael Katz, Tsachi Hanegbi and Limor Livnat, were expected to vote against the evacuation.

Netanyahu blasted the Gaza withdrawal in a recent interview with WorldNetDaily.

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''The Palestinian terrorists don't view our departure as a reasonable move but as a flight from terror and a sign that terrorism works,'' Netanyahu told WND. ''If you flee from terror, then terror continues to chase you. This plan simply emboldens the terrorists to continue their tactics until the completion of their ultimate goal: the destruction of Israel.''

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Netanyahu: Gaza evac a reward for terror