Israel rejects withdrawal delay

ISRAEL’S Cabinet rejected a proposal to delay the summer’s Gaza Strip withdrawal by six months on Sunday, while the first settler families voluntarily moved out of their Gaza and West Bank homes.

Underscoring fears of possible attacks by extremists who oppose the withdrawal plans, the 21 Israeli ministers were fitted for bulletproof vests before the meeting started in the prime minister’s office.

The 18-3 vote against the proposal to delay the withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements means the forced evacuation of settlers will begin in mid-August as planned.

The delay had been proposed by Agriculture Minister Israel Katz, a hard-liner.

The Cabinet’s wrangling over the Gaza pull-out highlighted the bitter rivalry between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former prime minister who voted in favour of the delay, a direct challenge to Mr Sharon.

At least eight settler families have moved out of their homes in recent days, including two in Gaza and six in the West Bank. If growing numbers leave voluntarily before the government’s deadline, withdrawal opponents could be weakened considerably.