Posted on 09/19/2005 7:47:35 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has flown home to fight for his political survival after collecting diplomatic dividends at the United Nations for a pullout from the Gaza Strip.
Mr Sharon faces a showdown with rival Benjamin Netanyahu, who is trying to unseat him as head of their rightist Likud party.
The move could bring down the Government, force early elections and keep peacemaking with the Palestinians on hold.
In a show of confidence on the flight home, Mr Sharon told reporters: "I'm not concerned and neither should you be."
A week before a fateful meeting of Likud's Central Committee, Mr Sharon, 77, had complained in a speech to US Jewish leaders in New York that he had "lost the majority of my own party" and was in danger of being ousted.
He said "radical extremists" in Likud opposed to quitting Gaza after 38 years of military occupation were trying to force a parliamentary election although the party did not have to submit to such a test until late 2006.
Rightist critics of the first removal of Jewish settlements from land Palestinians want for a state have called the pullout, completed a week ago, a surrender to Palestinian violence and a betrayal of Jewish biblical claims on occupied territory.
"Ariel Sharon has seven days to save his Government," wrote commentator Nadav Eyal in the Maariv newspaper.
A political crisis was also brewing for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as politicians scheduled a debate of a no-confidence motion on Monday against the Cabinet they hold responsible for chaos in Gaza following the Israeli pullout.
For Mr Sharon, the fight that looms at home stands in contrast to the warm embrace he received from leaders at the UN World Summit, where he won accolades for a Gaza withdrawal seen as a possible catalyst for renewed peace moves.
I'm for Netanyahu. Anyone else?
Ditto.
That's right folks, it'll be a sling and 3 pebbles at 30 paces, Thursday, high noon. May the best man live.
I Ditto your ditto..LOL
I've always liked Bibi. He's tough as nails.
Ping
You bet!
Israelis rejecting Bibi is as asinine as the Brits throwing Churchill (Winnie, not Ward) out.
The stupidity of pacfists, appeasers and liberals is amazing to behold.
Sharon will beat Netanyahu to a political pulp.
He will eat Bibi's breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snack.
Me too...
Yep...BiBi!
Bebe....you da man!
Go Bibi, go! Sharon is a disgrace.
I've had the opportunity to hear Bibi Netanyahu speak twice and he is fabulous. I have a lot of respect for him, and you are right he is tough as nails. I will never forget what he said to our congress shortly after 9-11, that we would never let the terrorists into our court system and he was so right.
I've had the opportunity to hear Bibi Netanyahu speak twice and he is fabulous. I have a lot of respect for him, and you are right he is tough as nails. I will never forget what he said to our congress shortly after 9-11, that we should never let the terrorists into our court system and he was so right.
Agree.
Bibi should return as Finance Minister where he was great. He did not do well as PM.
It's time for BiBi.
I have a soft spot for him not only because he's tough as nails but he was raised in my area :)
BiBi '05 !!!! I'm am running his campaign here in AK........
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