Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Natan Sharansky today submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharansky resigned because he opposed the plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria. He sent a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister’s Office while Sharon was still on his way there.
Sharansky told Sharon before the Passover holiday that he planned to resign after the holiday, but did not say exactly when he would do so. Sharansky traveled to Jewish communities in Gush Katif during the Passover holiday, and met with residents.
Sharon responded to the resignation at this morning’s cabinet meeting, saying, “I want to express my appreciation of Natan, not regarding his letter, because I would be very pleased if he would continue serving, and thank him and commend him for his work on the issues that fell within his responsibility. I think that he did exceptional work in dealing with anti-Semitism around the world and it seems to me that his contribution in this area is very large and very extensive.
”I have known him for many years. He is very pleasant to work with and his achievements have been impressive in every field that he has dealt with… I would like to wish him success.”
Sharansky was one of the last Likud opponents of disengagement left in the cabinet, after Sharon fired ministers and deputy ministers who opposed the plan in the Knesset and the government.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on May 2, 2005