Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today submitted his Gaza withdrawal plan for a crucial parliamentary vote, as tanks and troops killed 14 Palestinians in a raid in the occupied territory.
Facing far-right threats to his coalition and warnings of civil strife, Mr Sharon opened a two-day debate widely expected to end in approval for Israel's first evacuation of settlements in occupied territories where Palestinians want to create a state.
"This is a fateful hour for Israel. We are facing an unprecedented decision," Mr Sharon said as he was heckled by ultra-nationalist lawmakers opposed to his plan, which he promotes as "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians.
Police ringed the Knesset building in the face of anonymous threats to assassinate Mr Sharon and planned mass rallies by Israelis for and against his plan.
Polls show most Israelis back "disengagement" and it is likely to pass with about 67 of the 120 votes in the Knesset tomorrow, but only with support of left-wing opposition members to offset a mutiny by rightists in Mr Sharon's Likud party.
Mr Sharon, a former general, says pulling out of small, coastal Gaza next year would make Israel easier to defend and allow it to seal its grip on larger West Bank settlements, with US approval.
Israeli troops and tanks backed by helicopter gunships launched a raid in Gaza's Khan Younis refugee camp, a militant stronghold, killing 14 Palestinians, including an 11-year-old boy and two young men in a stone-throwing crowd.
Three of the dead were Palestinian policemen. Eight of the bodies remained unidentified.
The Israeli army said it was targeting militants responsible for "ceaseless mortar attacks" on nearby Jewish settlements. At least 74 Palestinians and two soldiers were wounded in Israel's thrust into the camp.