Olmert succeeds Netanyahu who rejected withdrawal from Gaza

The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon appointed his deputy Ehud Olmert as a minister of finance in succession of Benjamin Netanyahu who resigned in protest of the Israeli government's vote to withdraw from five Israeli settlements in Gaza in the framework of the first phase of the withdrawal from Gaza.

Sharon's office said in a statement that the prime minister notified Olmert, who assumes also the post of the minister of commerce and industry, to continue the same monetary policy and to increase the budget in order to be approved by the government next Tuesday, as set.

The Israeli government approved the first phase plan of the withdrawal by a majority of 17 votes against five. It includes the evacuation of the settlements of Natsareim, Kfar Daroum, and Morag.

Earlier Netanyahu said he will vote before the withdrawal operation from Gaza even for the first phase because of his rejection of what he called "implementing the withdrawal operation under the force of Palestinian gunfire."

Netanyahu, the former Israeli prime minister is considered one of the main opposition figures for the current prime minister Sharon, especially because of the fight between the two men over the post of the prime minister and leadership of the Likud party.