AL QUDS, Aug 7: Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigned in protest on Sunday as the cabinet approved the first phase of evacuations from settlements in the occupied Gaza Strip. The resignation of Netanyahu, Sharon’s main rival in the right-wing Likud party, sent local markets reeling and showed the depth of division in the cabinet over the plan for “disengagement” from conflict with the Palestinians.

But the departure of the highest-ranking minister yet to go over the pullout was too late to prevent approval for the forced evacuations of settlers, due to start after Aug 15. The cabinet voted by 17 to five to back the first phase of the initiative — removal of the settlements of Kfar Darom, Netzarim and Morag, isolated enclaves where resistance is likely to be among the strongest.

Mr Netanyahu said his resignation letter counted as a vote against the pullout plan and told reporters that the plan would harm Israeli security and could intensify Palestinian attacks.

“I did not expect my leaving the government would stop the unilateral move,” he said. —AFP