Israeli parliament (Knesset) members voted 53-44 Monday night against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's speech at the opening of the winter session, in which he declared he would bring his "disengagement plan" to debate on October 25.
Sharon added the plan to distribute compensation payments to settlers set for evacuation under his plan would be brought before the Knesset in the first week of next month.
Sharon told lawmakers that the U.S.-backed road map to peace was the "only diplomatic plan accepted by Israel" for negotiations with the Palestinians. However, according to Haarets, he conveyed that until the Palestinians "showed themselves to be partners for peace," Israel was forced to take its own steps. (albawaba.com)
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