Sharon survives no confidence bid in parliament

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled to keep his fragile coalition intact today after the Cabinet approved his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip by 2005.

His brittle coalition passed its first test today, when the parliament rejected two motions of no confidence.

The opposition Labour Party abstained – assuring Sharon’s survival for now.

On paper, Sharon’s coalition still controls 61 seats in the 120 member parliament. However, his situation remains tenuous.

The NRP party was meeting today to discuss quitting the coalition, which would deprive Sharon of another six votes in parliament.

Haim Ramon, a senior Labour MP, hailed the Cabinet approval of the Gaza plan as an “unprecedented historic move.” He also indicated that Labour would be willing to join Sharon’s government to help push the withdrawal plan forward. However, other Labour MPs oppose joining the coalition.

Sharon’s top aide, Dov Weisglass, indicated that Sharon is ready to join forces with Labour, which led peace efforts in Israel in the past decade.

“Even if the NRP decides to withdraw, the prime minister has a clear political alternative,” Weisglass said.

Under Sharon’s disengagement plan, Israel will uproot all 21 settlements in Gaza and four West Bank settlements by the end of 2005.

Sharon says a withdrawal boosts Israeli security and helps cement control of large blocs of West Bank settlements, where most settlers live.

Cabinet opponents noted that the compromise wording gives settlers and their backers plenty of time to scuttle the plan. Likud members defeated Sharon’s disengagement proposal in a nonbinding party referendum on May 2.

Sharon indicated today that implementation of the plan was conditional on Palestinian efforts to stop violence. “If there are unexpected developments it will be possible to stop the programme,” Sharon told MPs from his Likud party.

Egypt, which borders Gaza, is preparing to play a central role in the withdrawal.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom flew to Cairo today, where the two sides pledged to intensify security cooperation ahead of the withdrawal.

Egypt has offered to train Palestinian security forces and help them take control of Gaza once Israel leaves. Gaza is a stronghold of the militant Islamic group Hamas.

In new violence today, two Palestinians, including a mentally disturbed man, were killed by Israeli troops.

The army also said it was investigating the death of a paralysed Palestinian man who was fatally shot by troops on Sunday.

Palestinians said a 24-year-old mentally disturbed man was shot near the West Bank town of Qalqiliya as he approached Israel’s separation barrier.

The army said the man had been carrying a suspicious bag. It said soldiers opened fire after he ran away and refused orders to halt.

Palestinians also said a 30-year-old paralysed man was killed near an Israeli checkpoint north of Jerusalem on Sunday while drinking coffee.

In Gaza, Palestinian hospital officials said a 17-year-old youth was killed overnight near the Ganei Tal settlement.