Netanyahu quits as Israel approves Gaza pullout

[Joanne98]

Netanyahu quits as Israel approves Gaza pullout
Sun Aug 7, 2005 2:59 PM ET

By Matthew Tostevin
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigned in protest on Sunday as the cabinet approved the first phase of evacuations from settlements in the occupied Gaza Strip.

The resignation of Netanyahu, Sharon's main rival in the right-wing Likud party, sent local markets reeling and showed the depth of division in the cabinet over the plan for "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians.

But the departure of the highest-ranking minister yet to go over the pullout was too late to prevent approval for the forced evacuations of settlers, due to start after Aug. 15.

The cabinet voted by 17 to five to back the first phase of the initiative -- removal of the settlements of Kfar Darom, Netzarim and Morag, isolated enclaves where resistance is likely to be among the strongest.

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-08-07T185917Z_01_L0788381_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-MIDEAST-DC.XML

[Moderator]

1. Locking

discuss here-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x98061