JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The Israeli cabinet approved on Sunday the evacuation of Jewish settlements under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.

    The cabinet voted 17-5 in favor of evacuating settlements in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

    The pullout, which envisages a withdrawal of all 21 settlements from Gaza and four of 120 from the West Bank, will begin in July. The settlers will be given five month to evacuate.   After the vote, Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz are due to sign the evacuation orders.

    However, further ministerial votes will be needed to implement the four phases of the disengagement plan.

    Polls show most Israelis welcome the withdrawal, but ultra nationalists say it will be a "reward for Palestinian terrorism" and many settlers believe the land is theirs by biblical birthright.

    Israel's withdrawal from Gaza has been touted as a step toward reviving the roadmap peace plan that would lead to a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

    The Palestinians welcomed the pullout but feared Israel would further cement its grip on larger chunks of the West Bank land. Enditem