Israel's opposition Labour Party leader called today for early elections, effectively scrapping talks to enter the government after Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon's Likud party barred him from any negotiations.
Mr Sharon had vowed earlier in the day to press ahead with an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip despite the humiliating rebuff from his own party over his pursuit of an alliance with Labour to forge a parliamentary majority for his plan.
Labour leader Mr Shimon Peres, a strong proponent of ceding occupied land for peace with Palestinians, suggested Sharon had been too weakened by the revolt of Likud rightists to pursue talks with the main centre-left opposition.
"The opinion of the Labour Party today is to call for new elections and allow the people to decide," Mr Peres, a veteran former prime minister and foreign minister, told journalists.
He said elections, which do not have to be held until 2006, should take place "as soon as possible, the minute there is a majority in the Knesset," or Israel's parliament.
Mr Sharon wants to evacuate 8,000 Jewish settlers from Gaza next year, but that timetable would almost certainly be pushed back by early elections.
Mr Peres would have to present a motion to dissolve parliament to the 120-member chamber, which is in recess until October.
Some Labour lawmakers were earlier doubtful they could win a parliamentary no-confidence vote to enable fresh elections.
Sources close to Mr Sharon said he wanted to avoid early elections but they could not be ruled out.