Senior Likud ministers and members of Knesset today sharply criticized the convention of the Likud party caucus yesterday evening.
Minister of National Infrastructure Ariel Sharon claimed groups of thugs were brought to the convention, not necessarily party members, who clapped and cheered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sharon further maintained the convention had been postponed for a week in order to organize these groups of supporters.
Sharon stated today, "I felt very uncomfortable looking at the groups of enlisted hoodlums standing on the sidelines that I am not even sure are Likud members." To the question of who organized these supporters, Sharon replied, "I don’t answer questions in the personal domain."
Minister of Finance Dan Meridor stated that against the background of the Rabin assassination and what led to it, it would be better if those who use the phrases "traitor", used yesterday against MK Benny Begin, and "death to the press", simply kept their mouths shut.
Meridor stated today on Army Radio, "It is hard to say that yesterday’s caucus was joyful, but the Likud is still my home. One must note that of all the caucus members, very few participated in the ridicule, and of those, even fewer yelled at me. In the caucus, I hold my own. My principles are the rule of law and the obligation to uphold the rules of democracy. In the past, my opinions were in line with party ideology. I hope this is still true today."
Meridor refused to say whether he would resign from the cabinet if the suspicions in the Bar-On appointment affair prove true.
Minister of Communications Limor Livnat said that what happened at the caucus yesterday was regrettable. "Senior party members who criticized Netanyahu were not allowed to express themselves, and they were pushed back to the end of the speakers’ list," Livnat added. MK Uzi Landau stated he will demand discussion by the Likud party secretariat of yesterday’s events. Landau said that the events created the appearance of Bolshevism, which damages the Likud.