Israel's parliament easily passed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's contentious plan to pull out of Gaza and part of the West Bank, approving compensation of hundreds of thousands of dollars to families of settlers to be evacuated.

The 59-40 vote on Wednesday was the final parliamentary endorsement. But the pullout, marking the first time Israel would remove veteran settlements from the West Bank and Gaza, still has many obstacles to overcome — strident, even violent opposition by settlers and their backers, as well as attempts by opponents to scuttle the plan by bringing down Sharon's government.

[...]

The vote reflected a realignment in which dovish parties came out in favor of Sharon's plan, while many of his traditional pro-settlement supporters voted against. Vice Premier Shimon Peres of the Labor Party called the vote "a clear decision for peace," but the Settlers' Council said it marked "a black day for democracy."

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 12:50 AM | Basie! Home