Israel will allow Jewish settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip this year to move to the West Bank, an Israeli minister said yesterday, despite a freeze on settlement expansion under the US-backed "road map" towards a two-state solution.

The disclosure came as tensions rose in Israel ahead of a cabinet vote on Sunday on a plan by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to evacuate from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank and to compensate more than 8,000 Jewish settlers. Well-organised settler leaders have vowed to oppose Mr Sharon at every step. Dozens of rightwing demonstrators were arrested on Monday night.