Omri's Friend To Guard Ballot Box, Supervision Slashed [PMs Office threatens
opponents]

Olmert launches "disengagement bus," opponents charge vote may be railroaded
As minister hits campaign trail on behalf of the PM's plan, foes cry foul
over referendum format
Yifat Zohar Maariv 21 April 2004
maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=6326

[IMRA: Likud MK Yehiel Hazan told a meeting of Likud members in Raanana this
evening that the Prime Minister's Office is monitoring the campaign in each
local area. When the Prime Minister's Office learns the identity of a Likud
Party activist who is encouraging Likud members in his city to oppose the
disengagement plan they call him and threaten him with sanctions if he
continues. Hazan cited some specific examples of individuals who were
warned that they would be stripped on their positions in the local
municipalitites if they did not immediately stop campaigning.]

Minister of Trade and Industry Ehud Olmert today (Wednesday) officially
launched his campaign to promote Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement
plan among Likud party members - on a bus bearing the slogan "We support
Sharon, disengagement is good for Israel". Olmert's "disengagement bus"
began its journey in Holon and is due to make its way across the country
from North to South.

Olmert, one of the initiators of the disengagement plan, also hatched the
idea of the "disengagement bus". "We shouldn't rest on our laurels" declared
Olmert, referring to the recent support given to the disengagement plan by
leading government ministers. "We have to ensure as big a margin as possible
in the referendum", he said.

Olmert's "disengagement bus" began its journey from the house of Holon Likud
branch head Shabtai Yosef and is due to travel to Bet Dagan before ending
the day in Ramle with an assembly of Likud party activists. In addition to
traveling across the country, Olmert's bus will visit settlements in Gush
Katif. It is expected to arrive in the Gaza Strip in a week's time and will
hold meetings with settlers there.

Olmert's inexhaustible campaign efforts will also focus on organizing
meetings with leading party members and activists across the country. Olmert
recently organized a campaign meeting in Tel Aviv bringing together
municipal mayors, Likud branch leaders, and Likud supporters such as soccer
star Avi Nimni.

Meanwhile, attorney Yariv Levin, deputy head of the Bar Association and
chairman of the Likud chapter in Modiin, has petitioned the party's election
committee against the referendum format and threatens to take the case to
court. "A possibility is being created to steal the vot," he charges.
pointing at the small nuber of observers authorized by the committee -- one
for up to 25 polling stations in such urban areas as Jerusalem. They also
reject the choice of security company to guard the ballot boxes, as it
belongs to Shlomi Oz, a well-known friend of MK Omri sharon, the PM's son.

Furthermore, the critics are furious at the committee's chairman having sent
out a pro-disengagement leaflet by Sharon's political advisor together with
the official explanatory material about the referendum, which is in their
view both misleading and exploiting party funds for unilateral propaganda.
.
A Likud spokesman declined comment.