Israeli minister resigns over Gaza plan
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Natan Sharansky, a member of the Israeli Cabinet known for his criticism of the Israeli government's dealings with the Palestinians, submitted his resignation Monday, his adviser confirmed to CNN.
The adviser said Sharansky wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announcing his resignation, which will take effect Wednesday, in protest at Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan.
Sharon announced that he had received Sharansky's letter at Monday's Cabinet meeting.
"I would like to express my appreciation to Natan, not for his resignation -- I would be happy if he continued his role -- but I'd like to thank him and praise him for his work on the issues he was in charge of," Sharon said.
"I think he has done an extraordinary job with regard to progress with the treatment of anti-Semitism, on a global scale, and I believe his contribution in that area is large," the prime minister added.
