The Shas Party said it will not back Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan. Eli Yishai, leader of the Sephardi Orthodox Party, made the announcement Thursday after Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef received two briefings from Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on the plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank next year. “I can say with certainty that the rabbi will not be in favor of the plan. He will not instruct us to vote for the plan,” Yishai told Israel Radio, referring to a Knesset vote scheduled for Oct. 26. “It appears he is deliberating on whether we should vote against the plan or abstain.” Even without Shas’ 11 lawmakers behind him, Sharon looks likely to get at least 68 votes to win ratification, Israeli media said.
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