Sharon Gaza showdown looms

2004-05-28 20:36

Jerusalem - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will ask his cabinet on Sunday to approve his proposal to withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip, officials said on Friday, setting up a showdown with opponents that could bring down the government.

Sharon made his decision after attempts to reach a compromise with hard-line members of his coalition failed, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Hard-liners have threatened to quit the government if the plan is passed.

The officials warned that the 23-member cabinet was closely divided and approval during Sunday's remained uncertain.

Sharon has been trying to salvage the Gaza pullout plan since his Likud Party rejected the proposal in a referendum early this month.

The original plan called for a complete withdrawal from Gaza, where 7 500 Jewish settlers live among 1.3 million Palestinians, and the evacuation of four isolated settlements in the West Bank.

After the referendum setback, Sharon called for a revised scheme calling for a similar withdrawal, but in four stages instead of one.

Seeking to placate his opponents, Sharon on Thursday proposed that the cabinet vote only on a very small portion of his plan - the evacuation of three small settlements in Gaza - and that a repeat vote be held several months from now.

But even that watered-down proposal ran into trouble.

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sharon's biggest rival in the Likud, gave only tepid support, and the pro-settlement National Religious Party threatened to pull out of the government if any settlements are uprooted.

An official in Sharon's office said the prime minister had approached Netanyahu and other wavering ministers in hopes of reaching a compromise.

"They refused to compromise, so we are returning to the full plan," the official said. Copies of the proposal were being distributed to the entire cabinet on Friday.

Many Likud members strongly oppose any pullout, and settlers have held protests outside the homes of undecided ministers, urging them to vote no.

After Thursday's setbacks, Israeli newspapers said that Sharon's days in office may be numbered.

But Friday's decision to seek the cabinet vote showed that Sharon has not given up yet.

Hanan Crystal, Israel Radio's political commentator, said Sharon had taken an enormous gamble.

"He has no majority, period," Crystal said. "If they vote against him, this is the second slap in the face in a month and essentially shows he is a lame duck."

If Sharon loses, his options could include dismissing opponents within the government and bringing in the opposition Labour Party.

Palestinians have been ambivalent about the proposal, demanding co-ordination with the Israelis over a withdrawal but welcoming, in principle, any Israeli evacuation from Palestinian areas.

- AP