Knesset rejects disengagement referendum

JERUSALEM, March 28 (UPI) -- Israel's Knesset rejected a referendum Monday on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, defeating the proposal 72-39 with three abstentions.

A rejection of the legislation on the first reading of the bill gave Sharon the political victory needed to advance his disengagement plan, reported the Jerusalem Post.

Despite heavy pressure to back the referendum, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas political party, told rebel leader MK Uzi Landau: "If you would have done more to get additional MKs behind the bid, a majority could have been reached. Where have you been? You have no majority."