World
SPE:1AL REPORT
Election
Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director of Hadassah's Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem,
updates the foreign media on the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
With Sharon ailing, election in Israel suddenly up for grabs.
I
Leslie Susser
grown his past as a polarizing figure to
unite a broad swath of the public behind
his plan to separate Israel from the
Jerusalem
Palestinians and set the country's final
riel Sharon's massive brain hem- borders.
Sharon was elected prime minister
orrhage has thrown Israel's
twice by huge margins and
upcoming election
appeared poised to win
wide open. What looked like a
another landslide in March at
foregone conclusion — with
analysis the head of Kadima, which
the prime minister's Kadima
he formed after leaving the
Party headed toward a land-
Likud in November. Though
slide victory — could now
he was extremely overweight, Sharon was
become a close three-way race among
known for his energy and drive and —
Kadima, Labor and Likud.
before suffering a mild stroke Dec. 18 —
had seemed generally healthy.
Latest polls still give Kadima a huge
Will any
lead, but it's not clear how much of that
I I successor
support might be a fleeting sympathy
vote or what will happen once the party
chooses a new leader who is subjected to
have the
negative electoral campaigning by his
opponents.
political clout?
And there's a deeper question: Will any
successor have the political clout to con-
tinue Sharon's policy, which could entail a
significant Israeli pullback from the West
"We have an entirely different
Bank?
political situation: Three parties are now
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
running toward the finish line, and no
appears to have the inside track to
one can say who the next prime minister
Kadima's leadership, as all the party's top
will be," political analyst Sima Kadmon
people have come out in support of his
wrote in Yediot Achronot after Sharon was
candidacy. It was clear to them that a bit-
hospitalized.
ter fight over the succession could tear the
Doctors remained guarded about the
new party apart.
prognosis for the 77-year-old leader, but
Faction Chairman Roni Bar-On, a close
the stroke — Sharon's second within
supporter of Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, a
three weeks — seemed likely to end the
potential rival for the top spot, called on
political career of a man who had out-
Jewish Telegr aphic Agency
A
i
proposing controversial policies that later
the party to unite behind Olmert. Livni
were seen to have come from the prime
herself declared that "I will do all I can to
help the acting prime minister carry out
minister.
Before taking over as acting prime
his job, and I am sure the other ministers
minister, Olmert was not the most popu-
will too."
lar figure in Kadima: He trailed Peres,
Haim Ramon, who crossed to Kadima
Livni and even
from Labor, might
Defense Minister
have been expected
Shaul Mofaz as the
to back ex-Laborite
people's choice for
Shimon Peres as
potential successor
Kadima leader, but
to Sharon.
he too called on
But Olmert's still-
party members "to
brief term as Israel's
restrain their egos"
temporary leader
and give their sup-
already has changed
port to Olmert.
that. He will hope
The first polls
that further incum-
taken after
bency strengthens
Sharon's serious ill-
his image as a
ness show that
national leader
Kadima under
among Israeli voters;
Olmert would win
conversely, his oppo-
around 40 seats in
nents in Labor and
the Knesset, com-
Likud will hope that
pared to 18-20 for
targeting him and
Labor and 13-16
Ariel Sharon: He still wields political
focusing on his per-
for Likud — fig-
clout. .
ceived weaknesses
ures similar to
will cut Olmert down
those forecast for
to size.
Kadima under Sharon.
The public saw Sharon as a pragmatic
The early polls are significant not so
centrist who could take difficult decisions
much as an election forecast but because
and sell them to moderate right-wingers
they will help Olmert consolidate his
because of his security credentials. Many
leadership position.
Israelis believed Sharon was uniquely
A former Jerusalem mayor who has
positioned to separate Israel from the
held numerous Cabinet posts, Olmert has
Palestinians and delineate the Jewish
been one of Sharon's closest associates in
recent years, often testing the waters by
Election on page 30
January 12 - 2006
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