Analysis Playing Hardball "Boldness For Sharon, Likud support is key to unity government, peace progress. ), Doorway Pendant "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." Goethe LESLIE SUSSER Jewish Telegraphic Agency Jerusalem onvinced that 2005 will be a year of great peace opportuni- ties, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is throwing his consider- able political weight behind a coalition with the Labor Party. Sharon sees a Likud-Labor partner- ship, bolstered by at least one Orthodox party, as the ideal tool for carrying through his disengagement plan and beyond. To that end, Sharon is following a two-stage strategy: C "Gandhi's World" Link Bracelet/Amulet "You must Be the change You wish to see in the "This Moment" world." Leather Bracelet/Amulet Mahatma Gandhi "Be happy for this moment. This moment... is your life." Omar Khayyam 248.647.4007 a bit trickier, though, because of oppo- sition within Likud to an alliance that party hard-liners fear will drag the government leftward. But Sharon was strengthening his hand ahead of a key Likud Central Committee vote that was set for Dec. 9. A defeat in the Central Committee almost certainly would lead Sharon to go to new national elections. A victo- ry, and a coalition with Labor, would enable the prime minister to push for- ward on peace moves with the Palestinians, Syrians and others. At a business conference Dec. 6 in Tel Aviv, Sharon spoke of "restoring 203 EAST MAPLE BIRMINGHAM Gallery Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Sat. 10-6 Thurs, Fri. 10-9 Sunday 12-5 www.artloftonline.com 916330 The Closer You Get, The More Natural It Looks Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addresses his ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting Nov. 28. Truly undetectable visually and to the touch. A feeling so natural the only sensation you won't have is pain, when pulled. • First, ensuring that the centrist, secular Shinui Party — which has refused to sit in government with fer- vently Orthodox parties — leaves the coalition. • Then, breaking resistance in Sharon's own Likud Party to a partner- ship with Labor. The first stage of Sharon's strategy already has gone off nicely. Shinui pulled out of the government last week over a deal between Likud and the Orthodox United Torah Judaism party under which the government would allocate about $65 million in next year's budget for religious institu- tions and needs. Sharon may not have planned Shinui's walk-out, but he did nothing to stop it. It was a question of simple arithmetic: Likud and Shinui together had 54 seats in the Knesset, a minority in the 120-member house; but Likud and Labor would have a majority of 62. Replacing Shinui with Labor will be ■ A THIN (INCREDIBLE HAIRLINE) HAIR REPLACEMENT ■ ABSOLUTELY FREE ■ For a Limited Time • For First Time Customers • Styled, Cut and Designed Especially for You • No Cost of Any Kind The Incredible Hair Line For men that are presently wearing top of the head hair replacement (no wig) The Apartment Hairbuilders since 1973 1 888-569-9898 17125 W. 12 Mile Rd. ■ 3 blocks east of Smithfield Rd. Ask for Donna 12/10 2004 28 Expires Jan. 29, 2005 Please bring ad for appointment Open Wed. through Sat. 9-5 909200 Israel's regional and international posi- tion" and declared that it would be "a terrible mistake" to miss opportunities in 2005 because of petty party politi- cal squabbles. Egypt's Lead According to aides, Sharon is particu- larly buoyed by what he sees as a potential strategic partnership with Egypt for promoting regional stability. Given Egypt's leadership position in the Arab world, Sharon believes the recent change in relations between Cairo and Jerusalem could create an atmosphere conducive to accommodation with Israel throughout the region, and that this could come to fruition next year. Analysts see the new Egyptian atti- tude to Israel as especially significant, given the ostensibly more pragmatic Palestinian leadership that has emerged in the wake of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's death and ongoing Syrian efforts to