Background: Min. Uzi Landau to Debate PM Sharon on Retreat

IMRA ^ | 14 April 2004

[yonif]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is slated to debate Likud Minister Uzi Landau in two debates on his retreat plan organized by Sharon's team to be held in Haifa and Holon prior to the Likud May 2 referendum.

Landau reportedly wanted to hold more than two debates, but Sharon's office refused.

Uzi Landau, born 1943 in Haifa, is a systems analyst by profession and holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Technion in Haifa. He has been an MK since 1984.

In the last election Landau was #10 on the Likud list (in contrast, Deputy Prime Minister Olmert was # 32).

Landau now serves as Minister Without Portfolio. Under his leadership as Minister of Internal Security the police revolutionized their treatment of Israeli Arab disturbances, opting to minimize police-civilian confrontation while heavily documenting violations of the law so that arrests could be made later. The level of violence radically dropped after several rounds of this approach (the police would come in the middle of the night after a disturbance to arrest the rioters - family members protesting the arrest were showed police photos of their loved ones violating the law).

Landau, who is a member of the board of Si'ah Vasig - the Israel Debating Society, is known as a sharp speaker who can think on his feet, exploiting the depth of the positions he holds.

As the son of Likud leader Haim Landau, Uzi Landau is considered a Likud "prince". His spotless reputation within the Likud will make it difficult for Sharon to engage in such tactics as character assassination and ridicule.

It is expected that regardless of the relative performances of the two debaters that the media will proclaim Sharon the victor.