Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today narrowly survived three parliamentary no-confidence votes sponsored by opposition parties over deepening poverty in Israel.
The motions against his shaky coalition did not pass because small dovish factions vowed not to be involved in toppling Mr Sharon, saying his plan to withdraw from occupied Gaza was paramount.
But he became more vulnerable after his main partner, the secular-rights Shinui party, threatened to quit over funding he promised to religious Jews in exchange for votes critical to passing the 2005 state budget.