World News 27-10-2004 The Nation is With Sharon who: Ariel Sharon what: Wins Knesset backing for resettlement plan where: Israel when: Yesterday snippet: "After two days of fierce debate, Israel`s parliament last night voted for prime minister Ariel Sharon`s Gaza withdrawal plan," says Ben Lynfield in The Scotsman, calling the decision "a pivotal step towards the first evacuation of settlers from occupied territory Palestinians want for a state." "The Israeli prime minister won the support of 67 members of the 120-member Knesset. Among the 45 who voted against were 17 members of his ruling Likud party. There were seven abstentions and one absentee," says The Financial Times. "Mr Sharon is now armed with a decision in principle by parliament to evacuate all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank. Actual withdrawal still requires the endorsement of his coalition cabinet, which includes opponents of the plan." "The dissident ministers, including Benjamin Netanyahu, the Finance Minister and main rival to Mr Sharon, and Limor Livnat, the Education Minister, voted for the plan and then warned they would resign unless a referendum was called within 14 days," says The Independent`s Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem. "But Mr Sharon will continue to resist a referendum - although polls show a large majority of the Israeli public favour the plan - on the ground that it is a delaying tactic." "The nation is with Sharon," says Ehud Olmert, the deputy prime minister and Sharon ally, quoted in The Times. "The Knesset is with Sharon. The Likud is with Sharon and the disengagement will take place." [... more]

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