Israel's ruling Likud Central Committee Thursday adopted a resolution urging the Knesset (parliament) passage of a law mandating a referendum over the Gaza pullout plan despite the party leader and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's opposition.

Vowing to go ahead with the disengagement plan, Sharon stressed that he would not allow extremist forces to take over the party.

"The Likud is a national, liberal movement, and we must do everything so that it stays that way," Sharon said. "I will not let the radical margins dictate our path."

Sharon's speech was accompanied by raucous catcalls and signs telling him to "go home."

Likud's Central Committee Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi said earlier that even if the resolution is passed, there is "no chance" that a referendum bill will win Knesset approval.

Sharon has spoken fiercely for months against holding a national referendum on the disengagement plan as he fears that a national ballot could ruin the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank.

However, Hanegbi convinced him on Wednesday that the proposed resolution, originally raised by Likud hawks, had been watered down enough not to do him any harm.

"The Likud Central Committee recognizes that holding a referendum on the disengagement plan could calm the public dispute and strengthen unity in Israeli society," said the resolution.

"Therefore, the Central Committee calls upon the faction to work to immediately legislate a referendum bill," it added.

The hawks initially intended to raise a much harsher proposal calling on Likud Members of Knesset to oppose the 2005 state budget and on ministers to oppose the disengagement, but Hanegbi refused to bring such a proposal to a vote.

Sharon's aides said the prime minister would still vote against the proposal but he would not ask committee members to follow his lead.

The aides also noted that the meeting would accomplish nothing, other than wasting large sum of money on renting a meeting place and providing security.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told the central committee that a referendum would prevent civil war and was not intended to move against Sharon.

Shalom also said a referendum would take only 60 days, in contrast with Sharon's contention that it would significantly delay the implementation of the pullout.

"I am not proposing a referendum against the prime minister, a referendum against the (disengagement) plan," Shalom said, adding that it is for "national unity" and the unity of the Likud party.

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, saying a referendum may be the only way to tone down the controversy over the plan.

"I have no doubt that a national referendum is the means - perhaps the only means - to stop the major internal danger that threatens us," he said. "I am convinced that a referendum would calm heated spirits."

Likud Member of the Knesset Michael Eitan indicated that voting for a plebiscite would constitute opposition to Sharon's policies on withdrawal, while voting against the 2005 state budget would cross the line into mutiny.

According to the Israeli law, the Sharon government would collapse if it failed to get the state budget passed in the knesset later this month.

Source: Xinhua