Sharon narrowly escapes no-confidence embarassment

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/389963.html

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"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon narrowly avoided a political setback when the Knesset rejected by one vote a no-confidence motion brought by left-wing parties on Monday, the same day the prime minister announced he had ordered plans prepared to evacuate 17 Gaza Strip settlements.


The decision by right-wing factions inside the government to be absent from the vote - in protest of the prime minister's Gaza Strip plan - led to the close 42-41 vote.

The National Religious Party and National Union party, as well as Likud MKs Gila Gamliel, David Levy and Ayoub Kara, were absent from the vote.

Although the motion was narrowly defeated, Sharon's government was in little danger of being toppled since 61 votes in the 120-seat Knesset are required to bring down the government. Nevertheless, had the no-confidence motion passed, it would have caused the prime minister significant political embarassment."