Sharon postpones vote on plan
2004-05-30 08:58
Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided on Sunday to postpone a vote on a revised version of his controversial Gaza pullback plan until next week's cabinet meeting, public radio reported.
Sharon announced the decision at the start of this week's cabinet session where the revised "disengagement plan" was due to be discussed, added the radio.
The delay is intended to give the beleaguered Sharon more time to whip up a majority within the 23-member cabinet in support of his new proposals, a watered down version of a plan which was rejected by members of his right-wing Likud party in a referendum four weeks ago.
The new plan would involve the evacuation of only four of the 21 Gaza settlements initially, with any further pullouts having to be the subject of a fresh vote in cabinet.