|
Israel's parliament Knesset has approved Prime
Minister Sharon's controversial plan to dismantle Jewish settlements in
Gaza and small parts of the West Bank.
When the votes were counted Mr. Sharon had the victory he had sought,
with 67 votes for, 45 against and seven abstentions, a narrow win that came
only with the help of his traditional opponents. The Knesset has 120
members but one was absent due to illness.
There were some tense moments when five cabinet ministers walked out
before their names could be called for the vote. Only when the members
were polled a second time did the five, led by Finance Minister Benyamin
Netanyahu cast their votes in favor of the plan. But the ministers said
they would resign from their posts if Mr. Sharon does not hold a national
referendum on the
disengagement plan within 14 days.
Nearly half of 40 lawmakers from Mr. Sharon's Likud party voted against
the plan, and two religious parties the prime minister had courted to be
part of a new coalition government, cast their votes against it.
Opponents of the plan failed in a last minute maneuver to derail the vote. The National
Religious Party threatened to quit the government within two weeks if Mr.
Sharon did not agree to hold a national referendum in the coming months.
The prime minister has rejected demands for a referendum, which is seen
as a stalling tactic to give opponents of the pullout more time to
organize support for their position. Nationwide polls show a majority of
Israelis favor a withdrawal.
The National Religious Party had been expected to oppose the plan
anyway, but their announcement may have encouraged other members of Mr.
Sharon's Likud Party to vote against the plan.
The withdrawal plan has bitterly divided Israel, and saw the
transformation of Mr. Sharon from the settlers' biggest proponent to their
most powerful political enemy. As recently as early 2003, Mr. Sharon
called the Gaza settlements an essential part of Israel. But after four
years of devastating violence in the region, Mr. Sharon changed course
saying the continued occupation of Gaza, where some 8000 Jewish settlers
live amid 1.3 million Palestinians, is
untenable.
Tuesday's vote is only the first of several required before the plan
can be implemented next year but it marks the first time parliament has
approved the dismantling of Jewish settlements in Gaza or the West Bank.
Mr. Sharon says his plan will boost Israel's security. He also believes
it will blunt international
criticism of Israel. Palestinians say it will strengthen Israel's hold
over large parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, lands Palestinians
claim for a future state. | 
