Sharon building support for Gaza plan

By Mark Lavie
The Associated Press

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However, the two sides remain far apart on what Labor denounced as the government's "piggish capitalism."

Sharon alienated much of his pro-settler constituency and lost his majority in Parliament when he decided to withdraw from all of Gaza and four West Bank settlements by late next year.

He is seeking to bring Labor and other parties into his government to reinforce his political coalition and secure a Cabinet majority for the pullout, key to carrying out his plan of "unilateral disengagement" from the Palestinians.

Labor, which favors more far-reaching steps than Sharon's withdrawal plan, is the main piece in the puzzle. Other parties might give Sharon a slim majority, but no other combination assures Cabinet approval of all stages of the pullout.

Labor leader Shimon Peres confirmed yesterday that negotiators from his party and Sharon's Likud have reached agreement on the terms of the Gaza pullback and on general policy toward the Palestinians.

Interviewed by the Italian newspaper Il Secolo, Peres said his main demands were accepted, including a more detailed timetable for a Gaza withdrawal.

Peres also said Sharon was willing to consider coordination with the Palestinians.

Sharon's advisers declined comment.

Elsewhere, an Israeli helicopter fired three missiles yesterday near the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, witnesses said. No casualties were reported.

Also yesterday, the Palestinian daily Al Quds quoted Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as saying continued Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement make it impossible to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.

However, Ali Jarbawi of the Palestinian elections commission said voter registration would begin early next month, despite the hardships.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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