Sharon strengthens coalition

Sharon is defying US pressure to pull troops out

By Caroline Hawley BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has announced he is bringing two new parties into his coalition, including a right-wing religious party.

Mr Sharon not only talked tough in his special address to the Israeli parliament - he has also now acted to ensure continued support for his hardline policies.

Thousands of Palestinians protested against Sharon's policies

The move means that Mr Sharon's government is now secure, because by bringing in the National Religious party and the Gesher party, he no longer needs Labor, which has threatened to quit the coalition several times over the past 18 months of conflict.

One of Mr Sharon's three new ministers is particularly controversial.

Effi Eitam, the new head of the National Religious party, is an ultra-hardline former army general, who has openly expressed the wish that Palestinians in the West Bank would be transferred to Jordan.

Clear message

A prominent Israeli analyst said Ariel Sharon's political moves were a clear message to both the Palestinians and the international community that he was toughening the right-wing ideology of his government.

An Arab member of the Knesset told the BBC he was now even more fearful for the future.

The inclusion of the National Religious Party in the government has also sparked new calls for members of the Labor party to leave.

But there is no sign that the Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, or the Defence Minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, are ready yet to walk away.