Likud balloting ends; Poll predicts Sharon victory

Jerusalem Post ^ | 9/26/5 | GIL HOFFMAN AND JPOST.COM STAFF

[SmithL]

Polls closed at 10 p.m. in the Likud central committee vote that took place at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds in one of the most important decisions the party has ever faced.

Both sides said they won by a small margin, while an Israel Radio poll of 419 committee members proved inconclusive, with a result of 51 to 49 percent for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, but with a 5% margin of error.

For in-depth coverage of Likud leadership rivalries - Special Report: Battle for the Likud >>

A day after the mayhem in Sunday's Likud central committee meeting, which included the sabotage

of Sharon's microphone, central committee members voted on whether to move up the party primary, a move that might endanger Sharon's position as head of the party.

When the polls closed, a total of 2,844 people out of some 3,000 Likud Central Committee members - nearly 95% - had voted on whether to move up the primary. According to political analysts, a high turnout favored Sharon.

Both the Sharon camp and supporters of rival Binyamin Netanyahu have already accused the other of forging votes. A woman in the Sharon camp went to a polling station to vote and was told that she had already voted. In that particular polling station, 130 people had voted and 135 ballots were cast.

The mutual accusations also continued over last night's microphone fiasco. One Sharon advisor said, "The extremists in the party are responsible. We are not so crazy as to allow anyone in our camp to embarrass Sharon. This did not help him."

After casting his vote, Sharon briefly addressed reporters. He opened his statement by calling out, "Can you hear me?" in a more-than-direct reference to Sunday's microphone incident. He then repeated himself, "Are you certain you can hear me?"

Sharon then said, "I wanted to address you last night, but unfortunately I couldn't. I hope that committee members will come to vote in order to prevent a move that would seriously damage the Likud."

When hounded by reporters to respond to allegations that his supporters were responsible for cutting the microphone wires during his Sunday address, Sharon smiled and refused to answer.

To read Sharon's undelivered Sunday speech, click here.

Shortly after Sharon voted, Netanyahu cast his vote. "Today the members of the Likud central committee will decide on the direction of the movement – whether we are Likud or Meretz," he told reporters after voting.

According to Netanyahu, "I hope that today they will decide upon democracy in the Likud, put all conflicts behind us, and come together behind the majority's decision in order to push the Likud forward in a united manner."

"I am convinced that they will make the right decision," Netanyahu concluded.

Over 3,000 members will decide whether to move up the party's primaries. The outcome of the vote could have a significant impact on the future of Sharon as head of the Likud, as an early election could lead to his ouster.

If Sharon, who strongly objects to early primaries, loses, he may quit the Likud and form his own political party, leaving the reins of the party in Netanyahu's hands.

At a Jewish New Year's toast in Tel Aviv, former prime minister Ehud Barak said, "The Likud is breaking up under the weight of its blunders, so Labor must unite to take advantage of it."

Meanwhile, a police investigation into the sabotage of Sharon's microphone commenced on Monday morning. Head of the Yarkon District, Lt. Cmdr. Ezra Aharon, appointed a special team to investigate the incident.

Also on Monday, Acting Finance Minister Ehud Olmert placed the blame for the microphone wire-cutting incident on anti-pullout activists. "Anyone who is able to spit on soldiers and curse them is surely able to cut [wires]," he said.

MK Gilad Erdan, member of the so-called "Likud rebels", blamed Sharon's camp.

In an interview with Army Radio, Erdan stressed that he did not know if Sharon himself was involved, but he was sure that a member of the Sharon camp was behind the incident.

[Uncle Joe Cannon]

In that particular polling station, 130 people had voted and 135 ballots were cast.

They have learned well from the King County Democrats.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Please don't remind me of who our current governor is. It's still painful thinking about what they did.

[Uncle Joe Cannon]

Well, that election sure reminds one of Stalin's infamous quote (paraphrasing) "It does not matter who gets the votes, it only matters who gets to count them."

[jayef]

Hey . . . could be worse. There's always Louisiana for that.

[Ingtar]

I wonder if it was the same experts that said a high turnout favored Kerry?

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

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