Embattled Sharon faces 3 no confidence motions

The motions will centre on the government's social policies after the publication of a damning report last week that showed more than one in five of the population is now living below the poverty line.

The government has been without a majority since early June after traditional right-wing allies either quit or were sacked over their opposition to Sharon's plan to pull troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip next year.

The main opposition Labour party has been providing a safety net on issues related to Sharon's so-called disengagement plan but it is throwing its weight behind Monday's no-confidence motions.

Pundits expect the government to scrape through Monday's votes with the six-strong left-wing Yahad faction likely to abstain. But the motions will underline the precarious nature of Sharon's government.

He has been struggling for the last month to muster enough votes for his 2005 budget but the secular Shinui party has warned that it will quit the coalition if Sharon diverts funds towards the favoured projects of religious parties in a bid to bring them on side.