Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sacked Monday night four of the five Shas ministers, and all of the party's deputy ministers, following the ultra-Orthodox party's refusal to support his emergency economic plan, local reports said.
Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana, who is not the member of the Knesset (parliament), handed in his resignation on hearing that his Shas colleagues had been dismissed.
The sacking en-mass will come into force in 48 hours -- just before midnight on Wednesday.
The move came after the government failed Monday night in its attempt to pass its emergency economic plan, as lawmakers voted against the bill at its first Knesset reading.
The emergency package was defeated largely due to Shas members, who voted against the austerity plan despite a threat by Sharon to sack all Shas ministers.
Sharon needs the belt-tightening plan to be adopted by parliament to cover the military expenses for reprisal operations against suicide attacks in the Palestinian-controlled areas.
( May 21, 2002)
