Israel's opposition Labor party on Tuesday approved the start of talks with the ruling Likud on forming a coalition government to push through the Gaza pullout plan, a Labor official said.

"Our job is to do what's right to ensure that disengagement goes ahead," Labor legislator Haim Ramon told reporters after the party's political bureau met in Tel Aviv late Tuesday.

Labor's go-ahead signal came one day after its leader Shimon Peres met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to explore the cooperation possibility.

Peres was authorized to take necessary steps to advance the initiative and to set up a team to conduct the negotiations.

The party members would, however, make the final decision on joining the coalition.

Labor critics say that the party should be working to bring down the government and force elections instead of teaming up with Sharon again.

Labor served in Sharon's government from 2001 to late 2002 when the cooperation dissolved in a dispute over funding Jewish settlements.