Washington: The United States has said its support for the Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza remained unchanged even though it was rejected by his ruling Likud party.

"Our own view has not changed. The President welcomed Prime Minister Sharon's plan to withdraw settlements from Gaza and a part of the West Bank as a courageous and important step toward peace," the White House said in a statement yesterday (May 2, 2004).

Earlier, Israel's public television reported that sixty one per cent of the Likud party members who voted rejected the plan with final results yet to come.

"We will be in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Government of Israel about how to move forward," it said.