BBC (Tuesday): Sharon wins vital vote on budget

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Tuesday March 29 19:55 GMT (11:55 am PST)

Sharon wins vital vote on budget

Israel's parliament has approved the 2005 budget, clearing the way for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to carry out his Gaza withdrawal plan.

Members of the Knesset endorsed the spending package by 58 votes to 36, with one abstention.

Rebels in Mr Sharon's own party, Likud, had wanted to defeat the budget and force early elections, in a bid to delay the planned July pullout.

The Israeli settler movement has vowed to step up protests against the plan.

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