ELECTION
AtitslUisi
from page 32
The unity government has provided
a remarkable measure of stability over
the past 18 months as Israel has faced
one of the gravest crises of its history.
But Labor has found it difficult to
project a distinct image to voters as it
criticizes Sharon's policies but, because
of its position in the unity govern-
ment, shares responsibility for them.
More than Defense Minister and
party leader Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, those
politicians reflected the convention's
mood. When Ben-Eliezer suggested sup-
porting the state budget — with changes
to be proposed later — the delegates
rejected the idea and said Labor should
take a stand on socioeconomic issues.
Indeed, Ben-Eliezer seems to have
been the convention's big loser. He
incurred widespread anger when he
implied that his leadership of the party
was being challenged because of his
Sephardi background.
Haim Ramon, chairman of the
Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee and one of the three con-
tenders for Labor leadership, emerged
the big winner. ,He called for immedi-
ate withdrawal from the government,
accusing the party's Cabinet ministers
of following Sharon's line. "You are
like the sheep on Sharon's farm,"
Ramon charged.
Labor Twists
The third candidate, Haifa Mayor
Amram Mitzna, still seems to be the
front-runner by a comfortable margin,
making up for his lack of oratorical
skill with quiet-spoken conviction.
A new survey shows Mitzna with 36
percent support within the party, far
above Ramon and Ben-Eliezer, who
have 25 percent each.
But some pundits predict Mitzna
will start losing ground to Ramon,
who, since the convention, has picked
up support from a number of Labor
heavyweights, including Knesset
Speaker Avraham Burg.
To make sure the doves win the
party leadership from the more cen-
trist Ben-Eliezer, Mitzna and Ramon
could join forces shortly before a
runoff; the question is which of the
two would be the candidate.
Mitzna, the most outspokenly dovish
of the candidates, received a minor set-
back this week with reports that
- Palestinian officials had offered finan-
cial support for his campaign. Though
he rejected the offer, the fact that
Palestinians are so eager to see Mitzna
elected may worry Israeli voters.
If Ben-Eliezer confounds the polls
and wins — as when he upset Burg
allows
:brad insight
ONCERT
THE ISSUE
A pro-Palestinian conference
that
takes place this weekend at the
University of Michigan's Ann Arbor
campus will focus on a campaign to
pressure Israel to withdraw from the
West Bank and Gaza Strip —
through divestment of university
assets in Israeli companies or .
American companies that do busi-
ness with Israel. It is interesting to
note what the conference will not be
talking about.
FEATURI NG
Bruce Ndler
liroadvay Start
WITH
Chicago
Maiirwell Street Weimer"
Band
BEHIND THE ISSUE
The "Second National Student
Conference of the Palestine Solidarity
Movement" will not promote peaceful
negotiations between Israelis and
Palestinians; will not promote com-
promise on tough issues, such as
Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and
borders; and will not unequivocally
condemn Palestinian terrorism against
innocent Israeli civilians.
Allan Gale, Jewish COlni 77-1.1121: 1
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
for the party leadership last year —
Labor could split in two.
Former Cabinet minister Yossi Beilin
has made it clear that if Ben Eliezer
wins he will break away and lead other
dovish Laborites into a coalition with
the left-wing Meretz, the small Russian
immigrant Democratic Choice Party
and an Arab group led by the former
secretary-general of Israel's Communist
Party, Salim Jubran.
"It will not be a case of Yossi Beilin
leaving the party and the rest of them
living happily ever after," Beilin said.
"Labor will be smaller than the party
we are going to establish. All the polls
show that."
Another complicating factor is that
the next general election will be held
under the old one-ballot system of pro-
portional representation. Unlike the last
three national elections, in this election
voters will not directly elect a prime
minister, a format that profoundly
changed both the composition of the
Knesset and Israeli political culture.
But voters still are likely to be strong-
ly influenced by the identity of the
party leaders. And though polls today
show the Likud winning about twice as
many seats as Labor, a leadership reshuf-
fle, a remaking of the political landscape
or major diplomatic and economic
changes by the time of the elections
could jeopardize Sharon's continued
hold on power.
Adler provides his
audiences with an eve-
ning's entertainment that
they will not soon forget.
his wide-ranging talent
him to do just
enables
Maxwell Street Klezmer Ban
it takes to
about anything
bring an audience to its
a folic singer, was captivated by
feet! Singing . „dancing...
LoriLippitz,
er music and in 1988 she
Vaudeville comedy...gen-
the sound of lklezm
name d after a Chicago
tle lullabys and ballads.
started her own group
Jewish neighborhood: Maxwell
Street or rated
"Me.
fam-
entlylmmig
Born into a the
The group soon attracted rec Alex Koffman, its
ily, he began performing
Russian musicians, including
and
has
contin-
at age 3
first pianist, and now its arranger and violinist.
ued the -family traditions
The band's unique variety involves a multitude
over the years by starring
of talnts, from lazzmen to younger
in showscelbrating
Yiddish cultuere and the.:
lciezmerphil es.
after.
Br uce
OCTOBER 0,
2002
P.M.
2 7:00 ER
SUNDAY, ILLENNIUM THEAT
5
AT THEM
IN SOUTHFIELD
15600 J.L. Hudson Drive, Southfield, MI 4807
FOR RESERVATIONS
PHONE
248 -538 -6088
Concert Tickets
Available from $50
Joseph F. Sevin
President
❑
ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA
7001 Orchard Lake Road • Suite 310 • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Fax 248-538-6090
Phone 248-538-6088
10/11
2002
F, 1 6
35