Israel's Likud party signed coalition agreements with the Labor party and religious United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party on Thursday, securing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a parliamentary majority needed to implement his Gaza withdrawal plan.
The agreements will give Sharon a new coalition government with 66 seats in the 120 Knesset (parliament), clearing the way for his planned withdrawal from Gaza and perhaps peace talks with the Palestinians.
The ultra-orthodox UTJ decided Wednesday to join Sharon's new coalition government on a three-month trial basis. Earlier, the hitherto leading opposition Labor party had already reached an accord with Likud.
Sharon lost his majority in parliament when some allies bolted over his plan to pull troops and Jewish settlers out of Gaza, leaving his government with only 40 Knesset seats. With the newly signed agreements, Sharon gained Labor's 21 seats and the UTJ's five.
Under Israel's constitution, coalition accords must be presented to the Knesset for approval 24 hours before a new cabinet can be formed.