Ariel Sharon

Sharon's unprecedented plan for giving up Jewish enclaves on territory occupied since the 1967 war has drawn death threats and warnings of civil war.

In a serious challenge after Parliament passed the U.S.-backed Gaza plan Oct. 26, Sharon's chief Likud rival, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and three other ministers vowed to resign in two weeks if no referendum is set.

Sharon fears that a referendum could delay the start of the withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip and four of the 120 settlements in the West Bank, slated to begin after another Cabinet vote in March.

Polls show that most Israelis support the plan to quit the Gaza Strip, seeing the cost in blood and money as too high for keeping 8,000 Jews in fortified settlements alongside 1.3 million Palestinians.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 6, 2004
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