Ministers spurn Sharon on Gaza pull-out plan

THREE key ministers have spurned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s appeal to help shore up sagging support for his Gaza pull-out plan in a crucial party referendum, political sources said yesterday.

In a slap in the face to Mr Sharon, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Education Minister Limor Livnat, heavyweights in the right-wing Likud, refused to campaign for the plan, which they have only reluctantly backed.

A confidant predicted that Mr Sharon, struggling to halt erosion in support for his unilateral "disengagement" proposal ahead of next Sunday's Likud referendum, would exact political revenge against those who turned him down.