Israel’s Labour quits ruling coalition

Israel’s Labour party voted on Sunday to quit Ariel Sharon’s coalition ahead of early elections as the Prime minister weighed abandoning his own Likud in a move that could remake Israeli politics and peacemaking.

Leftist Labour’s central committee, encouraged by fiery new leader Amir Peretz, voted overwhelmingly to leave the government it had joined to help Sharon counter rightist Likud rebels who opposed his withdrawal from the occupied Gaza Strip.

“Let the revolution begin,” said party official Eitan Cabelas who announced the result of the vote.

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The withdrawal of the Labour party was the expected first step in a week that could reshape Israeli politics, thrown into turmoil since Union leader Peretz defeated veteran peacemaker Shimon Peres in a leadership vote.

Labour cabinet members were likely to hand in resignations on Monday, said Israel Radio.