Sharon's battles not over yet

2004-10-27 08:06

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won approval from MPs on Tuesday for his Gaza pullout plan but failed to close debate on his project as ministers vowed to quit unless the issue was put to a referendum.

Deputies voted 67 to 45 in favour of the so-called disengagement plan, with seven abstentions, amid chaotic scenes which forced a recount when several ministers failed to be present for an initial count.

The vote should lead to a first ever Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territory.

Under the plan, all 8 000 Jewish settlers will leave next year from Gaza, captured by Israel from Egypt during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Several hundred residents of four small Jewish enclaves in the northern West Bank will also be uprooted.

Sharon rejects referendum idea

But opponents of the project and Sharon's rivals within the main governing Likud party made clear that they did not regard the battle for a referendum as over despite the outcome in parliament.

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was among the absentees from the first vote, said he had tried to change Sharon's mind before the vote and warned that he and three colleagues would resign if the premier did not have a change of heart within a fortnight.

A close aide to the premier however made clear that Sharon would not have a change of heart and would prefer to have elections as a last resort.

"We are not dealing with the Netanyahu issue. The prime minister has a mandate from the parliament and government to go on with his plan and he will do it."

Two ministers who voted against the government, cabinet minister without portfolio Uzi Landau and deputy internal security minister Michael Ratzon, were promptly sacked by the premier.

Sharon's victory was achieved partly through a decision by the left-wing opposition Labour and Yahad parties to support the premier, who had previously been regarded as the ultimate champion of the settler movement.

Sharon is without a majority in the 120-seat Knesset after traditional allies quit in protest at his project.

Labour leader Shimon Peres said after the vote that his party "will continue to act according to the needs of peace" when asked whether his faction would continue to provide a safety net for the current coalition.

Most Israelis favour pullout

But the National Religious Party, which is one of three parties in the coalition, warned it would quit the government in a fortnight if Sharon did not hold a referendum.

"I am very disappointed by the result because the Knesset approved the evacuation of Jews from part of land of Israel," said NRP deputy Nissan Slomiansky, whose party is the political mouthpiece of the settlers.

"If there is no referendum the NRP will leave the coalition within 14 days, counting from now."

According to an opinion poll published Tuesday, 65% of Israelis are in favour of the pullout.

- AFP