According to local media reports, Justice Edmond Levi of the Supreme Court gave the prime minister time until 2.00 p.m. (3.00 p.m. Moscow time) to postpone the vote by himself. Otherwise, he warned, the Supreme Court will issue an official decree to that effect.
The governmental vote was scheduled for 4 p.m.
The judge's recommendation came as a result of the consideration of appeal of two recently sacked ministers Avigdor Lieberman and Beni Elon of the right-wing National Unity Party.
The lawyers of the ministers say Sharon had no formal grounds for dismissing them. Their intention to vote against the plan of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza could not be a reason, because no one can be punished for his intentions.
The Supreme Court has decided that only after the case on the two ministers' dismissal is settled the government can vote on the plan.
Having sacked the two ministers, Sharon got an advantage by one vote over the opposition.
