Israel's Labor party is likely to quit the government by November since the disengagement plan has been implemented, Israel Radio reported Friday.

"I presume - and also hope and believe - that by November the picture can be different (and) the Labor party will not be part of the unity government," Labor Party Secretary General Eitan Cabel was quoted as saying.

Cabel said his party considered Labor must leave the government if it is to present itself to voters as an "alternative" to the current government led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Cabel said Labor would make every effort to reach an agreement with the government on a date for general elections.

Labor joined Sharon's cabinet last January, forming a coalition government with his Likud party to push forward the pullout plan, which was completed earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently resigned as finance minister to protest the disengagement plan, will announce next week that he will run against Sharon in the party primaries, Likud parliament member Michael Ratzon said Friday.

Israel evacuated all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank this month, its first withdrawal from lands wanted by the Palestinians for a state.

Sharon said this plan is designed to "disengage" from conflicts with the Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua