The Israeli cabinet has approved the removal of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip.
As ministers gathered for the meeting, the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said the plans to remove settlers starting in July were painful for many Israelis including himself.
However, he said the plans were crucial to the future of the state of Israel.
The plans, which would involve the evacuation of 8,000 settlers and troops, have already been approved by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
In a separate move, Israel has lifted the travel restrictions that had been in place on the border between the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip and Egypt for the past nine months.
Israel had been preventing the vast majority of Palestinians under the age of 35 from crossing the border.
The cabinet is also due to vote later on a new route for the separation barrier in the West Bank.
Palestinians fear they stand to lose land as a result of the move.
