Yediot Ahronot: Shalom expects the fall of Sharon government

The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom expected the fall of the government of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in case he carried out his plan to remove the Jewish settlements from Gaza.

In a statement to the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, Shalom said that there is a state of anger in the lines of the Likud party, which is led by Sharon, and that if Sharon puts the plan into actual implementation, his government will fall because of its current composition.

Sharon had threatened to form a new government if his partners in the ruling coalition will obstruct his plan to evacuate 17 Jewish settlements in Gaza, so as no Jewish settlers will remain in the sector.

The Israeli prime minister told Yediot Ahronot that he will not hesitate to form a new government. He added he is not in a hurry to make this step "But I do not want to remain under the mercy of the groups.. this will not permit me to run the affairs of the state." He added that Israel is in need of one or two years to implement this plan. He added he is planning to remove three settlements. he said they are security trouble makers in the West Bank.

Sharon explained he will seek to get the consent of Washington to finance the operation of transferring 7500 settlers to Israel and to settle them. He admitted he finds it difficult to justify this request for the help.