(31 May 2004)
1. Exterior shot of Israeli Knesset
2. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon walking into Likud Faction weekly meeting
3. Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat talking to Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
4. Minister arriving to meeting
5. Netanyahu sitting at table
6. Netanyahu reading remarks Sharon made of him in Israeli press
7. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister:
"I intend to explain today how the plan that I have presented to the government yesterday will give an answer to the worries of the (Likud) members or ministers, or Knesset members, but this I will do naturally Later. Thank you very much".
8. Likud Faction sitting in meeting
STORYLINE:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon presented a revised Gaza withdrawal plan to rebellious legislators from his Likud Party on Monday, a day after he failed to secure a majority for a pullback in his divided Cabinet.
On Sunday, Sharon warned his Cabinet he would do what it takes to get the plan approved, including reshuffling the government. Sharon is considering firing up to four ministers from two ultranationalist parties. This would give him a majority in the Cabinet, now split 12-11 against the Gaza plan.
However, such a move could trigger a rebellion in the Likud, which could deprive Sharon of his majority in the 120-member parliament and usher in new elections.
Sunday's meeting ended without a vote, which might be held next week.
The plan has been endorsed by US President George W. Bush and has also won Egyptian backing.
However, Sharon may be risking his job in his battle with cabinet hardliners, particularly his nemesis in Likud, popular Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is considered a strong contender to succeed Sharon.
In the original plan, settlers and soldiers would have been removed from Gaza and four West Bank settlements at once, and settlement buildings would have been left intact.
In the new plan, the withdrawal would take place in four stages, and most buildings in the settlements would be demolished.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said his government would "not stand in the way" of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
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