Israeli MPs approve withdrawal from Gaza

ISRAELI MPs last night approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza pullout plan, clearing the way for a withdrawal of Jewish settlers from Palestinian territory for the first time.

Sharon won the backing for his so-called disengagement plan of around 66 members of the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, where massive security, including thousands of police and water cannon, was in place for the vote.

However, victory came only thanks to support from the left-wing opposition Labour and Yahad parties, with nearly half the MPs from Sharon's right-wing Likud party voting against the premier.