Thousands protest for Gaza withdrawal

Carrying banners reading "Get out of Gaza, start talking," the demonstrators marched from Zion Square in the city centre to Mr Sharon's residence in the upscale Rehavia neighbourhood.

The rally comes just 24 hours ahead of a crucial cabinet vote on the controversial pullout.

"The demonstration is to demand that the question of Gaza is not only for the members of Likud [Party] to decide upon, but an issue that touches all the general public, of which the majority support a withdrawal," anti-settlement group Peace Now said in a statement issued several days before the rally.

The organisers said they were hoping to build on the success of a similar rally in Tel Aviv last month that was attended by some 150,000 people.

On Sunday evening, Mr Sharon's cabinet is set to vote on his contentious "disengagement" plan, which would see all 21 settlements in Gaza evacuated as well as four others in the West Bank.

Last month, Mr Sharon's Likud Party rejected the pullout plan but numerous opinion polls point towards a vast majority of Israelis favouring such a withdrawal.

Uncertain of a majority at Sunday's crucial meeting, on Friday Mr Sharon two ministers which looked set to tilt the balance in his favour, with 11 ministers backing the pullout and 10 against.

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