Panel says referendum law will not pass without PM's backing

A Likud committee charged with examining the issue of holding a national referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan recommended Sunday that the party draft a basic law on holding a national poll.

The 20-page report, however, also states that the prime minister will have to be in favor of the bill in order for it to gain a majority in the Knesset and for it to be implemented.

The head of the panel, MK Michael Eitan, said that a referendum may help Sharon implement his disengagement plan, maintain his coalition and the unity of the Likud party.

The panel presented its findings on Sunday, just one day before an ultimatum issued by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call a referendum expires.

Netanyahu gave Sharon 14 days to decide on calling a referendum, or else he will resign, just minutes after the Knesset overwhelmingly voted in favor of Sharon's plan to evacuate settlements in the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank.

Education Minister Limor Livnat, Health Minister Dan Naveh and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz also threatened to resign following the vote, but have since withdrawn their threat.

A similar ultimatum issued by the National Religious Party, which is a member of the governing coalition, is also due to expire Monday. The NRP has said that it will respect the outcome of the poll and remain in the coalition until the next general elections.

The report warns that there is much opposition in the Knesset against passing a basic law on referendum. Thus, states the report, in order for such an important bill to pass into law, it will have to have the full backing of the prime minister himself. "Without his active support, there is no chance of securing a majority for the referendum," states the report.

The panel found that the law could be passed within a month of it being presented to the Knesset for its first reading. Likud faction chief MK Gideon Sa'ar will decide by Monday's faction meeting whether to bring the matter to a vote.

Sharon has been attempting in recent days to ensure that Netanyahu and the NRP remain in the coalition. Sharon is due to meet Netanyahu Sunday evening in a meeting to discuss the 2005 state budget.

	Finance Minister Netanyahu walking into the Knesset vote on the disengagement plan. (AP)