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Sharon dismisses 2 rightist ministers from Cabinet


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Sharon is trying to win approval of his withdrawal plan.
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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Friday dismissed two rightist ministers from his Cabinet as he works to win approval for his plan to pull Israeli forces and settlements from Gaza and sections of the West Bank.

The prime minister's office said letters of dismissal were sent out around 9 a.m. (2 a.m. EDT) to Tourism Minister Benny Elon and Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Their dismissals take effect 48 hours from when the letters were received.

Last Sunday Sharon said he would give the Cabinet another week to consider his withdrawal plan.

He is hoping to get a majority of the 23-member Cabinet.

Sharon's new plan calls for the Israelis to withdraw from Gaza and portions of the West Bank in four stages. His initial proposal, defeated in a May 2 referendum by his own Likud party, was for a unilateral withdrawal. He broke the withdrawal into four stages after the vote failed.

If the Cabinet approves the new plan, Sharon will take it to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Sharon threatened last week to remove any Cabinet member who would not support his new plan.


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