8,000 settlers to quit Gaza by end of next year

"The prime minister will prove the seriousness of his intentions by presenting to a group of MPs a precise calendar for each stage of the withdrawal tomorrow," the official from Sharon's office told AFP Monday, on condition of anonymity.

The move is designed to demonstrate Sharon's determination to push through with his disengagement plan which has been severely hampered by a vote from his own Likud party against the opposition Labour faction joining a new coalition -- a move seen as vital to the project winning parliamentary approval.

Sharon's aide said that the premier had informed senior military and intelligence officials of his intentions on Monday morning, ahead of a meeting of his security cabinet which was also due to discuss the Gaza withdrawal.

"The prime minister made his announcement after the head of military intelligence General (Aharon) Zeevi said that (Palestinian leader) Yasser Arafat does not believe that Israel will withdraw from Gaza," the official added.

The Israeli cabinet approved the disengagement plan back in June but Sharon has lost his parliamentary majority after traditional right-wing allies baulked at what they call the "forcible transfer of Jews."

The government has said that the settlers should have left Gaza by September next year and all troops will have departed by the end of 2005 but much confusion remains over the details of the evacuation, including whether the operation will be carried out by the army or the police.