Sharon gives parliament Gaza plan timetable

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his fractious parliament today that he will bring his Gaza withdrawal plan to the Knesset for debate on October 25 and will seek approval for compensation for evacuated settlers two weeks later.

Sharon addressed the opening of the parliament’s winter session where MPs were to vote today on two motions of no confidence in the premier.

Sharon was expected to survive the votes with help from the moderate Labour Party, which is not in the coalition but supports the Gaza disengagement plan.

But Labour said it would not necessarily support Sharon on other fronts, such as domestic policy.

“There is no longer an automatic safety net,” said Labour MP Dalia Itzik.

Facing protests from the opposition and members of his own party, some MPs said it was unlikely Sharon’s government would complete its term, due to expire in November 2006.

“I don’t see this government running the distance,” Parliament speaker Ruby Rivlin said.

Sharon – a long-time champion and patron of Jewish settlements – did an ideological about-face with his plan to evacuate all Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.

Opposition to the pullout is strong among Sharon’s traditional supporters, and his Likud party has voted twice against the evacuation.

Israeli troops kept up a large-scale operation meant to stop Palestinians from firing rockets at nearby Israeli towns and settlements.

Israeli military sources recommended the operation be halted, saying it had run its course, however Sharon refused, Israeli security sources said.

Other Israeli officials seemed at odds over how much longer the raid would go on.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said the offensive was “in its final stages.”

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said the security establishment has not made a decision yet.