One speaker at the anti-disengagement demonstration was a Knesset Member of Shas - a party that is opposed to the withdrawal, yet is entertaining the possibility of joining the government coalition.

In addition to the disengagement vote in the Knesset, the budget vote is also on the agenda – and Shas is considering voting for the budget. Shas MKs say they will support the budget if certain economic benefits are restored, such as child allowance payments and other welfare allocations.

Party leader Eli Yishai was asked about this today by Arutz-7´s Haggai Segal: "You realize, don´t you, that your very entry of the coalition will pave the way for the disengagement, even if you vote against it. So how can you join?"

Yishai responded, "Unfortunately, the disengagement has already started on its way, in one way or the other; the left-wing and the Arabs won´t let it fall, and they´ll continue to support the government so that it won´t fall. I won´t support the disengagement in any way; I might join the government, but not the disengagement. Now, given the fact that the Likud has a chance to pass the budget with the votes of the left and the Arabs and the abstention of Shinui, I have to judge whether I should just stand by and let the economic decrees fall on the people, or whether I can help in some way to improve the situation. If there will be a majority [for the budget] without us, then we might as well jump on the bandwagon beforehand; if not, then for sure there´s no reason to support the budget. It´s not clear what will happen – the Likud ´rebels´ supported the budget in the preliminary vote, and even though they say they will vote against it in the next reading, nothing is for sure." (IsraelNationalNews © 01/31/05)