Netanyahu quits as Finance Minister. Israeli stock market tanks.

[lonestarnot]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8859413/

Israeli finance minister quits over Gaza move
Cabinet gives final approval to first stage of pullout
FREE VIDEO


• Netanyahu quits
Aug. 7: Israeli cabinet gives final approval to first phase of Gaza pullout, but Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quits in protest. NBC’s Martin Fletcher reports.
MSNBC

Updated: 2:20 p.m. ET Aug. 7, 2005
JERUSALEM - Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigned from his post Sunday to protest next week’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, saying the plan will create a “base for Islamic terror” in Gaza.

Netanyahu, seen as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s biggest political rival within the Likud Party, submitted a letter of resignation during the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday. The resignation will take effect within 48 hours.

Netanyahu wrote that he cannot be part of what he described as a “process that ignores reality and proceeds blindly, creating a base for Islamic terror that will threaten the state.”

[wuushew]

1. Hum how is the Gaza pullout related to matters of finance?

n/t

[lonestarnot]

3. Not sure they are related, however, people pulling out are probably just

a little pissed about being uprooted from their homes, and pull-out going to cause chaos and more bloodshed perhaps? What do you think?

[wuushew]

4. I just find amusing the lack of focus in Israeli cabinet positions

they are essentially the glue in a tense spoils system to ensure a working government.

I mean would Alan Greenspan or the Treasury Secretary quit over Bush policy in the education department or foreign policy?

The fact that one can go from a Defense Minister to Education Minister etc. implies that one need no relevant credentials for bureaucratic posts. Seems like poor government to me.

[lonestarnot]

5. I don't like quitters much myself... and I also question the position

movement... what is up with that? Move from house cleaner to Foreign Affairs minister to dog keeper...Go figure. Agree poor government.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Discussion in I/P

Please click here.

[Moderator]

6. Locking...

This should be posted in the I/P forum.