Sharon mounts bid to stave off defeat on Gaza pull-out plan

IN A last-minute bid to stave off defeat for his Gaza withdrawal plan, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave a series of interviews broadcast yesterday painting Sunday's referendum as a vote of confidence in him.

Polls have shown dwindling support for the plan in recent weeks, and new surveys published yesterday indicated for the first time the proposal would fail in Sunday's referendum of the 200,000 members of Mr Sharon's Likud Party.

Also yesterday, a remote-controlled bomb went off in the house of the Gaza police chief, Ghazi Jabali, destroying the ground floor. Mr Jabali had left a few minutes earlier, and no one was hurt. Residents found a 25-yard wire leading from the scene, attached to a switch.

The blast apparently stemmed from violent, internal Palestinian rivalries. A shootout in February at Mr Jabali's Gaza office with backers of rival Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan killed one police officer and wounded 10 others.

Some of the internal Palestinian violence has been attributed to a jockeying for power among different groups ahead of Mr Sharon's proposed pullout from the Gaza Strip.

However, two polls published in Israeli newspapers indicated a significant shift of opinion among Likud voters against the "disengagement plan", which would also include the evacuation of four small West Bank settlements.

A survey in the Maariv daily showed 45% of Likud members oppose the plan, with 42% in support. Thirteen per cent said they were undecided.

A poll published in the Yediot Ahronot daily showed 47% against the plan, 39% in favour and 14% undecided. The poll was conducted among 583 Likud members. Support for the plan was 54% in the same poll two weeks ago and 49% last week.

Opponents of the plan have been active for weeks, demonstrating on street corners and plastering city walls around Israel with posters saying a pull-out would be "a victory for terror" and would endanger Israel. Until the last few days, supporters of the plan have done little to rally voters to their side.

Mr Sharon began personally calling Likud officials on Wednesday to appeal for their support, and he sent allies around the country to whip up support.

In interviews with two Israeli radio stations and Maariv yesterday, Mr Sharon warned Likud voters that a "no" vote would have dire consequences.

He suggested it could force the party out of power, but stopped short of saying he would resign in case of defeat. "You can't be for me, but be against my plan," Mr Sharon said.

"Whoever wants me understands that only in this way can I fulfil my promise to bring peace and security.

"Whoever believes in me must vote for the disengagement plan. Whoever supports me must vote for the plan," Mr Sharon said.

When asked what he would do if he lost, Mr Sharon said: "I don't even want to think of that situation."

A pro-Sharon rally led by vice premier Ehud Olmert was interrupted on Wednesday by residents of the Jewish settlement of Homesh in the West Bank, one of those marked for evacuation.

Mr Olmert was scheduled to visit a Gaza settlement Wednesday, but was told by residents he was not welcome.

Mr Sharon's plan was bolstered by US President George W Bush's endorsement two weeks ago and his backing for Mr Sharon's position that Israel should not have to give the Palestinians all of the West Bank or let Palestinian refugees return to Israel in a peace deal.

But many in Mr Sharon's traditionally pro-settler party remain wary of pulling down Jewish settlements.

Mr Sharon had originally promised to honour the Likud referendum, but backed down last week, with advisers saying he will present his plan to the cabinet and parliament regardless of the vote's results.