JERUSALEM, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Israeli Knesset (parliament) decided to evacuate some 9,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank as they approved the historic Evacuation Compensation bill Wednesday night.

    The bill was passed with a comfortable majority of 59 to 40 votes, with five abstaining.

    The Knesset General Assembly was full as Knesset members cast their votes on the second and third readings of the bill.

    The bill said compensation to residents and businesses to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank would cost4.3 billion New Israeli Shekels (NIS), or roughly 1 billion US dollars, nearly 50 percent higher than the government's original estimate of NIS 3 billion (686.5 million dollars).

    The Knesset Finance Committee last week voted to raise the amount of compensation to evacuees in the face of arguments that some parts of compensation were unrealistic, and in order to make the evacuation process pass more smoothly.

    The bill, considered as one of the most controversial laws in Israel's history, was widely seen as crucial to the success of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.

    The vote was preceded by a marathon voting that included a long list of amendments to the bill.

    Hopes of those who wanted a referendum on the bill were dashed as the amendments calling for a referendum or a minimum of 21-day delay before issuing evacuation orders were not passed.

    The Knesset's Law Committee chairman Michael Eitan from the ruling Likud said earlier his committee had introduced a 21-day delay to the date the law takes effect, which would force the government to wait to issue evacuation decrees and give time for the Knesset to gather a majority for a referendum.

    "A referendum will make it easier to carry out the plan," said Eitan, who noted he supported disengagement. However, the Knesset passed an amendment canceling the delay.

    Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, who is responsible for the legislation, said the change was "improper" and aimed at "getting a referendum in through the back door."

    He said the delay would only "make settlers suffer from more uncertainty," adding that it was pointless because supporters of a referendum were "well aware that they have no majority."

    Hours before the voting, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said his Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party would vote against the 2005 State Budget, and would not join the coalition government.

    The state budget could prove to be even more crucial for the success of Sharon's disengagement proposal and for the survival of his government, which by law will be brought down if the budget fails to pass the Knesset by March 31.

    Right-wing Knesset members have proposed changing the name of the legislation to the "expulsion of Jews from their homes" bill.

    "This is a death sentence to Jewish settlement," said Yuri Shtern from the National Union.

    The only previous decision by the Knesset to evacuate settlements was made in 1982 when the Sinai Evacuee Compensation Law was passed in accordance with the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Enditem