Sharon proposes party referendum on withdrawal

Israeli premier Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is proposing to hold a non-binding referendum among 230,000 member of his hard-line Likud Party on a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, government officials said today.

At a party convention today, Sharon was to ask the 7,500 members of Likud’s ruling body, the Central Committee, to approve his referendum idea, the official said.

He said the committee was expected to approve Sharon’s referendum proposal.

Sharon’s plan to evacuate most Gaza Strip settlements and some West Bank communities has been met with fierce opposition, including within Likud.

Sharon is to meet President George Bush next month to discuss the proposal.