Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dismissed the Shinui Party from his government when its members of the Knesset voted against the 2005 Israeli budget. Sharon has been negotiating with members of the Labor Party and Haredi Party to form a new coalition government.

While the Shinui Party members voted against the budget, Sharon?s ?Disengagement Plan for Gaza and the West Bank? is also at stake. Sharon?s Likud Party controls 40 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, and he must put together a coalition government or face an early election. Sharon?s best partner at this time will be the Labor Party, but they will want some of the more prestigious ministerial positions to join Sharon?s government. Sharon will have to make other concessions to gain a partner and then continue forward with his plan to move settlers out of Gaza and the West Bank. The budget vote is the straw that broke the camel?s back and forced Sharon to move an unwilling coalition partner out; this may push his timetable for disengaging back even further.

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