Analysis: Israeli PM's troubles

By Richard Miron
BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is facing growing problems.

The Israeli Supreme Court has upheld the decision that he shouldn't be indicted on corruption charges, but on the political front he has to deal with the consequences of another defeat from within his own party.

On Wednesday night, members of his Likud Central Committee voted not to allow him to bring the opposition Labour Party into the governing coalition.

Few doubt that Mr Sharon will carry on with his plans for Gaza, with or without the support of his own party

Mr Sharon had wanted to include Labour in order to proceed with his Gaza disengagement plan.

On the surface he looks weakened, having been rejected by the Likud Central Committee.

His speech to the party convention was nearly drowned out by jeers and heckles.

But despite the vocal opposition among the narrow confines of party activists, he has importantly retained the backing of a majority of cabinet ministers.

Even more crucially, he has the strong support of most of the Israeli public for his Gaza disengagement plan - which envisages the withdrawal of all of Israel's 7,000 settlers and the troops that protect them from Gaza but continuing to exercise control over Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace.

Early election

The difficulty Mr Sharon faces is how to continue to rule without a clear majority in the Israeli parliament.

The opposition Labour Party is likely to lend him electoral support, as he proceeds with the plan .

But the dissent within the Likud will, according to some here, lead to early elections.

Few doubt that Mr Sharon will carry on with his plans for Gaza, with or without the support of his own party.

Ironically the Prime Minister, who founded the Likud and was the backer of the Jewish settlers, could preside over the splitting apart of the party as he proceeds with his plans for Gaza.