Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, facing down rightist hecklers at a meeting of his Likud party, vowed yesterday to pursue unilateral steps to separate from Palestinians if a US-backed peace 'road map' fails.

"My disengagement plan is the best plan for (Israeli) security. This is my plan and I will see it carried out," Mr Sharon told the party convention in Tel Aviv, stressing that he was in charge not unelected members.

Mr Sharon reiterated that Palestinians would get less if Israel enacted the separation measures than if they halted violence and negotiated permanent peace through the road map.

His speech was interrupted at one point by far-right hecklers who reject any thought of a Palestinian state and are outraged at Mr Sharon's statements that some Jewish settlers will have to move whatever plan is put into effect.

Mr Sharon emphasised that Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank were "courageous and loyal to Zionism" but had to respect Israeli law and security forces.

The one-day convention gave Likud hardliners their first nationally televised shot at Mr Sharon's plan, announced late last month, to separate from the Palestinians should talks on implementing the road map fail.