Quds city, March 11, SPA -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said his government could fall over a crucial budget vote this month if hardline rebels in his Likud Party make good on threats to vote against the spending plan. If the 2005 state budget does not pass by March 31, Sharon must step down and new elections will be called, endangering his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements this summer. Thirteen of 40 Likud legislators oppose the pullout plan and have said they would vote against the budget, depriving Sharon of a majority in parliament. Addressing female members of the Likud on Thursday evening to mark International Women's Day, Sharon said his government could easily fall over the budget. "We face a problem today. The problem is that there is a group within the Likud that threatens to vote against the budget and bring down the Likud government," Sharon said.
