Editing Likud (section)

===Sharon and Kadima split===
Sharon's [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of 2004|Disengagement Plan]] alienated him from some Likud supporters and fragmented the party.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myre |first=Greg |date=2004-05-28 |title=Facing Opposition, Sharon Plans Debate on Full Withdrawal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/international/middleeast/facing-opposition-sharon-plans-debate-on-full.html |access-date=2023-02-19 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219225702/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/international/middleeast/facing-opposition-sharon-plans-debate-on-full.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He faced several serious challenges to his authority shortly before his departure. The first was in March 2005, when he and Netanyahu, then his finance minister, proposed a budget plan that met fierce opposition from the opposition and parties to the Likud's right. The plan passed the Knesset's finance committee by a one-vote margin,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-03-25 |title=Sharon budget clears first hurdle |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/3/23/sharon-budget-clears-first-hurdle |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Al-Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232116/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/3/23/sharon-budget-clears-first-hurdle |url-status=live }}</ref> before being approved by the Knesset by a wider margin later that month.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2005-03-29 |script-title=he:הכנסת אישרה את תקציב המדינה לשנת 2005 |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3065290,00.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232145/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3065290,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The second was in September 2005, when Sharon's critics in the Likud, led by Netanyahu, forced a vote in the Likud's central committee on a proposal for an early leadership election, which was defeated by 52% to 48%.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myre |first=Greg |date=2005-09-26 |title=Sharon Faces Leadership Vote Forced by Political Opponents |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/international/middleeast/sharon-faces-leadership-vote-forced-by-political.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232457/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/international/middleeast/sharon-faces-leadership-vote-forced-by-political.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In November, Sharon's opponents within the Likud joined with the opposition to prevent the appointment of three of his associates to the Cabinet, successfully preventing the appointment of two.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mualem |first1=Mazal |last2=Alon |first2=Gideon |date=2005-11-07 |script-title=he:שרון נכשל בכנסת , אולמרט אושר בנפרד |language=he |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2005-11-07/ty-article/0000017f-dc11-d3ff-a7ff-fdb14a5e0000 |access-date=2023-02-21 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128105248/https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2005-11-07/ty-article/0000017f-dc11-d3ff-a7ff-fdb14a5e0000 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 November 2005 [[Labor Party (Israel)|Labor]] announced its withdrawal from Sharon's governing coalition following the [[2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election|election]] of the left-wing [[Amir Peretz]] as its leader.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Somfalvi |first=Attila |date=2005-11-20 |script-title=he:פרץ במרכז העבודה: "מי למהפך החברתי - אלי" |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3172057,00.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232149/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3172057,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 November 2005, Sharon announced he would be leaving the Likud and forming a new centrist party, [[Kadima]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Marciano |first1=Ilan |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2005-11-20 |script-title=he:שרון החליט לפרוש מהליכוד |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3172187,00.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232118/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3172187,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sofer |first=Roni |date=2005-11-23 |script-title=he:רשמית: מפלגת שרון - "קדימה" - יצאה לדרך |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3174013,00.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232457/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3174013,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The new party included both Likud and Labor supporters of unilateral disengagement. Sharon also announced that an [[2006 Israeli legislative election|election]] would take place in early 2006. Seven candidates had declared themselves as contenders to replace Sharon as leader: Netanyahu,<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Somfalvi |first=Attila |date=2005-11-27 |script-title=he:נתניהו פותח את הקמפיין להנהגת הליכוד |language=he |trans-title=Netanyahu begins campaign for leadership of the Likud |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3175717,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232452/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3175717,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Uzi Landau]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Somfalvi |first=Attila |date=2005-08-09 |script-title=he:לנדאו הכריז על מועמדותו לראשות הליכוד |language=he |trans-title=Landau has announced his candidacy for the chairmanship of the Likud |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3124880,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232143/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3124880,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shaul Mofaz]],<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Somfalvi |first=Attila |date=2005-11-24 |script-title=he:מרכז הליכוד אישר: הפריימריז בחודש הבא |language=he |trans-title=The Likud's central committee has confirmed: Primaries will happen next month |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3174392,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232452/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3174392,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Yisrael Katz (politician born 1955)|Yisrael Katz]],<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2005-12-11 |script-title=he:כץ על עזיבת מופז: "מכה לאמינות הפוליטיקאים" |language=he |trans-title=Katz on Mofaz's departure: "A blow to trust in politicians" |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3182577,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |last1=Ynet |first1=כתבי |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232141/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3182577,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Silvan Shalom]] and [[Moshe Feiglin]].<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Hasson |first=Miri |date=2005-11-30 |script-title=he:פייגלין הודיע שיתמודד בליכוד: "צריך מסורת" |language=he |trans-title=Feiglin announced he would run in the Likud: "Tradition is Needed" |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3177197,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221232556/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3177197,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Landau and Mofaz later withdrew, the former in favour of Netanyahu<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last1=Marciano |first1=Ilan |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2005-12-05 |script-title=he:עוזי לנדאו פורש מהמירוץ, תומך בנתניהו |language=he |trans-title=Uzi Landau withdraws from race, supports Netanyahu |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3179491,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308152021/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3179491,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the latter to join Kadima.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sofer |first=Roni |date=2005-12-11 |script-title=he:מופז עוזב את הליכוד, עובר לקדימה |language=he |trans-title=Mofaz leaves Likud, moves to Kadima |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3182561,00.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308151759/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3182561,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>