Sharon's Gaza pull-out wins final approval

ISRAEL'S Cabinet yesterday gave overwhelming approval to a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.

The decision marks the first time an Israeli government has agreed to dismantle Jewish settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

Ministers voted 17-5, sealing the political defeat of withdrawal opponents, who had sought to put the plan to a national referendum. The evacuation of about 9,000 settlers is to begin in July and is expected to take eight weeks.

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who led the opponents, said he could not support a withdrawal without a national referendum.

Israel's Vice-Premier, Shimon Peres, a longtime advocate of a withdrawal from Gaza, said the vote was historic. "After 40 years in Gaza... what have we gained?" Mr Peres said.

The evacuation is to begin in July, and will be carried out in four stages, with the cabinet to approve each stage separately.

Later, the cabinet was also set to approve the final route of Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank, initially constructed to keep out Palestinian attackers, but increasingly seen as a blueprint for a final border between Israel and a future Palestinian state.

The barrier would cut off more than 6% of the West Bank, one-third of the land that would have been taken in a plan rejected by Israel's Supreme Court.

With yesterday's twin votes, the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began charting Israel's final borders unilaterally, something none of his predecessors has attempted since Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.

The vote on Gaza is apparently meant to soften the sting to the Palestinians of what is widely seen as the de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas reiterated in an interview with the German news magazine Der Spiegel that Israel must dismantle all settlements and halt construction of the barrier. "What right does Israel have to build settlements on our land?" Mr Abbas said.

Other Palestinian officials protested at what they described as Israel's go-it-alone approach.

"This Israeli government is dictating the outcome of the negotiations (on a final peace deal) before they begin," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.