JERUSALEM The Israeli Parliament voted yesterday to consider legislation calling for the annexation of all Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. In a Knesset session attended by just 25 of the 120 members, 21 right wing deputies voted to send a draft resolution to extend Israeli sovereignty over settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to committee for further action. Only three opposition deputies were present to vote against the proposal, which was submitted without prior announcement by Mr Benny Elon, a member of the farright Moledet party who also runs a Jewish seminary set up in annexed east Jerusalem. The Justice Minister, Mr Tsahi Hanegbi, said howver, that the government of prime minister Mr Benjamin Netanyahu opposed the Bill.
Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu has delayed a shakeup of his fractious cabinet which could have given the hawkish Gen Ariel Sharon more power. The architect of Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon and champion of Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza was poised to be named finance minister and has demanded to be included in an inner team of top decision makers.