Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he is determined that his government sees out its days in office.
He says if right-wing parties quit the coalition he will create a new government within hours.
Sharon was speaking to lawmakers in the Knesset, or Israeli parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The Media Line analysts say there are two key elements at play.
Sharon has so far refused to comment on the news that State-Attorney Edna Arbel has recommended that Sharon be indicted for alleged bribe-taking in the so-called Greek island affair.
The analysts say his reference to seeing out his full term in office is a clear indication that he is letting the public know he has no intention of resigning unless forced to by law.
At the same time, Sharon is still trying to push through his Gaza-withdrawal plan.
He hopes to get formal American approval for the proposal when he meets President George W. Bush on April 14.
On his return from the U.S., Sharon will formally present the program to his cabinet.
Sharon’s advisers fear the right-wing members of his government will then resign.
That means Sharon will have to bring the opposition Labor Party into the coalition in order to survive and ensure the Gaza plan is implemented.
The Gaza-withdrawal plan would mean the removal of 17 Israeli villages from the Gaza Strip at stage one, followed by the evacuation of the remaining three communities at a later stage.
Sharon says he also intends pulling Israelis out of several villages in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Sharon says Israel is acting unilaterally because the Palestinians have proved themselves incapable as a negotiating partner.