**Israeli legislators have voted in favour of the controversial plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from Gaza. **
The Knesset voted 67-45 to back Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s proposal, with seven abstentions.
Mr Sharon had to rely on the support of the main opposition party, while four government ministers threatened to resign unless there was a referendum.
Thousands of protesters, including many settlers, demonstrated outside to show their opposition to the policy. In Gaza, the Israeli army has ended a two-day incursion into the Khan Younis refugee camp in which 17 Palestinians were killed.
