Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon moved Monday to accelerate his plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip by announcing that a parliamentary vote on the controversial project would take place in two weeks.
As Israeli troops were ordered to push on with their deadly offensive in the territory, despite the reservations of army chiefs, Sharon brought forward the crunch vote in the Knesset where he currently lacks a majority.
"I am going to submit my plan for debate and a vote in the Knesset in two weeks only, on October 25," Sharon told MPs on the opening day of the winter session of parliament.
The announcement means MPs will give their verdict on his disengagement plan just a day after a cabinet vote. Sharon had previously indicated he would put the issue to a vote in the 120-seat parliament on November 3.
The move represents a significant gamble by Sharon who lost his parliamentary majority after traditional allies quit or were sacked from the coalition in June.
PALESTINIAN KILLED: The latest Palestinian victim, 24-year-old Maher Khamash, was killed Monday when troops opened fire as tanks rolled into the town of Deir Al-Balah in the centre of the territory.
And two brothers of an Islamic Jihad commander were seriously wounded in an Israeli helicopter strike in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
In Jabaliya, residents said hundreds of Israeli troops remained on the outskirts of the camp but there were no new clashes.
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