Sharon scrambles for backing on Gaza plan

Scrambling to halt erosion of support for his Gaza pullout plan, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has urged lawmakers to back him or risk losing unprecedented US assurances to the Jewish state.

Sharon said a new package of United States commitments that could widen Israel's borders and prevent the return of Palestinian refugees was an "inseparable part" of his proposal to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.

"Whoever is opposed to the plan gives up all these achievements we'd made ... [and] will carry the responsibility of cancelling all the US commitments," said Sharon. "This is a comprehensive agreement."

Even as he spoke, violence flared in Palestinian areas, where tensions have risen since Israel killed Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi in a Gaza airstrike a week ago.

Palestinian medics said a 4-year-old girl died of tear gas inhalation and another girl, 9, and a teenager were killed by Israeli gunfire in northern Gaza, on the third day of clashes since troops moved in to stop Hamas firing makeshift rockets. The Israeli force later pulled back.

The Army said Palestinian gunmen, operating near youngsters, had hurled grenades and fired automatic weapons and an anti-tank missile at the soldiers, who shot back at them.

"We did not fire at [residential] buildings or children," a spokesman said.

Dr Mahmoud al-Assali, director of Jabalya hospital in Gaza, said 4-year-old Asma Jlaiq was admitted with respiratory problems.

"Her skin had turned blue as a result of her inability to breathe and she soon died," he said. "We have enough proof to declare that gas inhalation caused her death."

Medics said the 9-year-old girl who died was hit by a bullet that penetrated her home.

Earlier, in the West Bank town of Tulkarm, Israeli troops shot dead three wanted militants, the Army said.

Sharon came out fighting during a parliamentary session after a poll found support for his "disengagement" proposal in his rightwing Likud party had slipped to 44 per cent before a crucial May 2 party referendum. Forty per cent opposed the plan.

The poll in the Haaretz daily came as an embarrassing surprise to Sharon's camp, who thought victory in the Likud vote was a foregone conclusion after he won support from US President George W. Bush and party heavyweights.

Reflecting his uneasiness over still-sceptical Likud members, Sharon - who had pledged to abide by results of the party referendum - said he would not feel legally bound by the vote and that Parliament would have the final say.

- REUTERS