Ariel Sharon, Israeli prime minister, yesterday looked set to end a six-month government crisis that threatened his plan to withdraw from Gaza, despite last-minute delays likely to prevent the formation of a new coalition for a further week.

His ruling Likud party and the opposition Labour party of Shimon Peres agreed in weekend talks on a power-sharing framework that would ensure passage of Mr Sharon's controversial proposals to evacuate all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank from the middle of next year.