Hundreds of Israelis lined up outside Israel’s parliament building yesterday to pay their last respects to Ariel Sharon, the former prime minister and general who died over the weekend.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won a key vote yesterday over a state budget he must push through parliament by month’s end or face a snap election that would threaten his plan to pull out of Gaza.

Israeli lawmakers held a stormy debate on Ariel Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan ahead of a critical vote today that could give the prime minister crucial support for pushing forward.

Israel’s Cabinet has given strong support to a key element of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements, setting up what is expected to be a fiery parliamentary debate and vote on the controversial programme, starting today.