Rightists quit Israel's unity government

TEL AVIV - The political partners that advocate the hardest line against Palestinians in the occupied territories withdrew last night from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's national unity coalition, a development that many political activists and analysts said marked the beginning of the end of Sharon's political life.

The revolt on the right occurred despite stepped-up sweeps of Palestinian cities and refugee camps by the Israel Defense Forces, including an incursion late last night into Gaza's Jabalya camp, where Reuters reported that 17 Palestinians were killed.

The Israel Beiteinu, Tekuma, and Moledet parties have only seven votes in the Knesset, but their withdrawal from the coalition led by Sharon's Likud party dramatically changes the balance of power