Military

DATE=10/26/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= ISRAEL SETTLEMENTS / L-ONLY

NUMBER=2-319901

BYLINE= LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Knesset Debates Sharon Withdrawal Ahead of Crucial Vote

INTRO: The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, winds up a second day of debate on

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial disengagement plan, with a vote on the

issue planned for later Tuesday night. VOA's Larry James reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Debate on the plan began Monday, with Mr. Sharon saying the Israeli pullout

would increase Israel's security. He was heckled by opponents who view the

pullout as caving in to Palestinian terrorism and an open invitation to further

attacks.

The Sharon plan is expected to win the majority vote necessary for passage -- but

only narrowly.

Israeli media are predicting the prime minister will win 66 or 67 of the 120

votes to be cast. (EDS NOTE: Vote time: 18 UTC).

A majority of the 40 Likud members in the Knesset are expected to vote for the

plan. But a substantial number of them are expected to vote against it -- a clear

sign of a deepening rift within the party. Likud Party Caucus leader

Gidon Sar, acknowledges as much and says it will take a lot of fence mending to

repair the damage that differences over the issue have done to the party.

/// SAR ACTUALITY ///

I will do my utmost in order to keep the unity of the Likud. It is very hard

but it is in the interest of all Likud members and leadership.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Likud's traditional opponent, the Labor Party, says it will vote for the plan.

The plan calls for the evacuation of all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza

Strip and four small settlements in the West Bank. It has been controversial

from the moment it was announced.

Although they are eager to see Israel leave any Palestinian territory, many Palestinians

condemn the plan as a unilateral move that will put an end to the peace process

and deny them the chance to create a viable state.

After an initially cautious reaction to the idea, the international community has

come around to support the disengagement plan -- including Israel's most-important

ally, the United States.

If the plan is implemented, it would be the first removal of settlements from

territories captured in the 1967 Middle East War since 1982, when the Sinai was

returned to Egypt. (signed)

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