Posted on 01/20/2003 3:42:58 PM PST by Nachum
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - New opinion polls put Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's right-wing Likud party firmly on course Monday to win next week's general election and showed that its chief rivals are failing to close the gap.
The outcome of the ballot pitting the hawkish Sharon against dovish Labor Party challenger Amram Mitzna is expected to be decisive in determining Israel's future approach to a 27-month-old Palestinian uprising for an independent state.
Israel's election fever contrasted sharply with the state of affairs inside the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian leadership Monday marked the cancellation of what had been the date for Palestinian elections.
In December, the Palestinian Authority postponed indefinitely its second-ever general election, scheduled for Jan. 20, due to Israel's reoccupation of Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank following a wave of suicide bombings.
Polls in two of Israel's dailies showed Likud winning at least 12 seats more than its main opponent, center-left Labor, but falling far short of a simple majority in parliament. Likud says it wants to form another coalition government if it wins.
The surveys confirmed a trend detected last week showing Likud had halted a slide in support that had been prompted by a corruption scandal. They also underlined that Labor was failing to reduce Likud's lead as the January 28 election approaches.
LABOR FAILS TO DRAW VOTERS
One poll suggested Labor would win far more votes if it were led by ex-Foreign Minister Shimon Peres rather than Mitzna, intensifying criticism of the candidate whose dovish campaign has not attracted the center-right voters who are key to election victory.
Israeli media said Monday that some Labor lawmakers were proposing Mitzna steps aside.
"Whoever takes a decision on how to conduct a campaign must take responsibility. Whoever wants to understand the meaning of that will understand," Weizman Shiri, a former deputy defense minister and prominent Labor member, told Army Radio.
But Mitzna, also the mayor of Haifa and a newcomer to national politics after his election two months ago as Labor chief, dismissed speculation he might stand down.
"I came here to win and I remain the head of Labor with no limitations or conditions. I'm happy that a figure like Shimon Peres stands with me, with his experience, ability and the trust he inspires in the public," the ex-army general told supporters.
A Labor spokeswoman noted that Peres had failed to win a single national election. "We have one candidate. Nobody else has suggested a change in leadership," she said.
ABORTED STEP TOWARD STATEHOOD
The Palestinian Authority issued Monday a statement blaming Israel's military crackdown against the uprising for disrupting their attempt at democratic reform which the United States has demanded as a step toward statehood.
"Instead of welcoming these democratic elections, the Israeli government sent hundreds of tanks and thousands of Israeli occupation soldiers to reoccupy Palestinian liberated territories," the statement said.
Israel maintains it would withdraw from any Palestinian city where violence comes to a halt. Such tough policies have dominated Sharon's campaign, including a refusal to hold peace talks with the Palestinians until violence ends.
Mitzna has taken a more conciliatory line, saying he would be ready to resume peace talks if elected. He has also outlined plans to pull troops out of Gaza and later the West Bank. Israel occupied both areas in the 1967 Middle East war.
The latest surveys in the Yedioth Ahronoth and Maariv newspapers had Likud winning 31 to 33 seats in the 120-seat parliament, compared to as many as 34 in polls taken last week. Labor was on 19 or 20 seats, roughly the same as last week.
Both polls showed Sharon would have a majority in parliament if he formed a coalition with a bloc of right-wing parties.
Sharon's preference is for forming another "unity" coalition including Labor. But Mitzna has ruled this out, raising the prospect of Sharon being forced to invite rightists into the government and further toughening his position on the uprising.
At least 1,786 Palestinians and 695 Israelis have been killed since the revolt flared in September 2000.
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