An Israeli parliamentary committee on Wednesday approved legislation enabling a national referendum on the issue of the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. It passed by a narrow vote of 9 to 8.
The bill now goes to the full legislature, the Knesset, where most observers believe it lacks sufficient strength to pass.
Prime Minister Sharon strongly opposes the idea of a referendum, and has vowed that the pullout will continue as planned, scheduled to begin on July 20.
The referendum is supported by those opposed to the pullout even though most polls indicate that a majority of Israelis favor the plan.
A new report saying that in the past month alone some 600 Israelis have moved into the Gush Katif bloc of Israeli communities in Gaza has fueled new skepticism by Israelis on the political left that the prime minister really intends to go through with the withdrawal.