An Israeli cabinet member trying to save Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government from collapse said on Saturday she still hoped to reach a last-minute compromise with dissident ministers over his Gaza pullout plan.
Talks between Immigration Minister Tzipi Livni, a Sharon ally spearheading mediation efforts, and three ministers from their right-wing Likud party opposed to the withdrawal proposal were due to resume later in the day, government officials said.
"I certainly think there's a chance until the (cabinet) vote on Sunday," Livni told Israel Radio.
A political source said a deal could be reached to fund "essential construction", but Sharon was wary of giving the nod for broad expansion of settlements he plans to uproot.