KNESSET VOTES FOR GAZA WITHDRAWAL

Israeli parliament OKs Sharon pullout plan
JERUSALEM - The Israeli parliament on Tuesday approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to withdraw from the occupied Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank in 2005, televised results showed. After a fierce two-day debate, lawmakers voted for what would be the first evacuation of Jewish settlers from land Palestinians seek for a state. But launching the pullout would require a vote by Sharon’s coalition cabinet set for next March. The vote was 67-45, with seven abstentions.

SEE ALSO: Israel's Knesset approves disengagement from Gaza
Israel's Knesset voted Tuesday night to approve Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to unilaterally disengage from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

67 MKs voted in favor
45 MKs voted against
7 MKs abstained

"The Knesset has decided by a maority vote and the decision binds us all," Speaker Reuven Rivlin said after the vote. After missing the first round of voting by not being attendance, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz and Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu voted in favor of the plan.