Sharon defies party again, presses ahead with Gaza pullout
 
"ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER Ariel Sharon vowed Thursday to press ahead with a promised pullout from the Gaza Strip, despite calls from his own party for a referendum and a new blow to the fragile peace process from a bomb blast in the West Bank."
 
FULL STORY at http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/news/news3.htm
 
Likud Central Committee votes for referendum, but PM says sticking to pullout schedule
"The Likud Central Committee overwhelmingly approved a resolution Thursday urging the party's MKs to work for the enactment of legislation to enable a referendum on the disengagement plan."

"The prime minister made it clear that he intends to pay no more attention to this decision than he has to other party decisions that contravened his plans. "We have made difficult decisions in the cabinet and Knesset in defiance of your opinions, and those decisions will be carried out as scheduled," he declared. "I will not allow the marginal extremists to dictate our path."
 

FULL STORY at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/547802.html

Likud: Sharon was Jeered, Netanyahu was Applauded At Vote For Referendum

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=77896

Referendum Might Give Way to New Elections

"A national referendum on the disengagement issue seems out of the question – now that PM Sharon is said to prefer new elections rather than give in to a Knesset law calling for a plebiscite."
 

"Labor Party elements, too, said they would choose new elections over giving in to "the extreme right-wing" and participate in a referendum."

"The Likud Central Committee voted overwhelmingly last night to act in the Knesset to promote a referendum on the disengagement/withdrawal/expulsion. The only ones voting against were Prime Minister Sharon himself, a handful of ministers and MKs, and several others."
 
FULL STORY at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=77893