JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will sack two far-right ministers Friday to pay the way for the approval of his Gaza pullout plan, Sharon's spokesman said.

    Sharon had summoned to his office the two ministers, Transport Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Tourism Minister Benny Eilon of the far-right National Union Party, to give the dismissal notices. The dismissal came ahead of a crucial cabinet vote on his Gaza pullout plan.

    Now, 12 cabinet ministers oppose the plan and 11 support it. By the sacking of the two ministers, Sharon can create a one-vote majority on his plan.

    Under the pullout plan, all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four small and isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank will be evacuated. Sharon wants to trade the small Gaza settlements for control of the main settlements in the West Bank, where most of the 230,000 Jewish settlers live. Enditem