Sharon stiffens resolve for Gaza pullout

"The disengagement plan will be implemented as planned," a senior aide quoted Sharon as saying after the shock departure of Benjamin Netanyahu, his chief political rival and perhaps Israel's most charismatic critic of the pullout.

"This resignation will have no impact on carrying out the prime minister's disengagement plan and there will be no delay," the senior official added.

Netanyahu, himself a former prime minister, resigned on Sunday as the Israeli cabinet gave the final go-ahead to the evacuation of three isolated Jewish settlements in Gaza, just over a week before the pullout is to begin.

There were also hopes from the Palestinians that his resignation would not affect the timetable or resolve of the pullout.

"I hope that the Israeli government will stay the course," said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat.