Israel's Likud party signs coalition agreements with Labor, UTJ

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 he needs to implement the Gaza withdrawal plan.

The new coalition government will now hold 66 seats in the 120 Knesset (parliament).

Under Israel's constitution, coalition accords must be presented to the Knesset for approval 24 hours before a new cabinet can be formed.

Source: Xinhua