NEWS: Ariel Sharon Leaving His Likud Party, page 1

posted on Nov, 21 2005 @ 02:14 AM

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has announced that he is leaving the Likud Party he founded in 1973 to start his own party. Fed up with the internal conflict within the party, this decision comes on the heels of the Labor party withdrawing from the coalition that includes Likud and currently controls the government.

news.yahoo.com
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took back the initiative from the rejuvenated Labor Party, quitting the Likud Party he himself founded in 1973 and striking out on his own — a daring pre-emptive strike before elections set for days after his 78th birthday.

Fed up with internal Likud opposition after he completed his withdrawal from Gaza, Sharon informed Likud leaders late Sunday that he was leaving to set up his own movement. It was the latest turnaround for the former general, hawk and settlement builder who jettisoned his record of decades and gave Palestinians control of part of their territory this year.

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As noted in this article it is a smart move on Sharon's part. Likud is left with basically hard core fundamentalists and may not do well in the upcoming elections. Sharon's decision to pursue the path to peace angered the ultra right wingers in his own party. It will be interesting to see if Sharon's party can come to terms with the new leader of Labor as well to form a new coalition government following the elections.

Related News Links:
Israel's Labour quits coalition

[edit on 11/21/05 by FredT]

Riwka

posted on Nov, 21 2005 @ 02:59 AM

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Sharon's new party is expected to attract 12 to 14 Likud MKs.

Among those planning to join Arik Sharon are Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Ministers Avraham Hirschon, Meir Sheetrit and Gideon Ezra. MKs Roni Bar-On, Eli Aflalo, Ruhama Avraham, Inbal Gavrieli and Majali Wahabi were also reported to be planning to support Sharon.

Meanwhile, countless other names of figures not currently part of the political establishment were also mentioned in recent weeks, including former Shin Bet Director Avi Dicther and Ben Gurion University of the Negev President Avishay Braverman - and Uriel Reichman, one of the founders of Shinui Party and the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, yesterday announced he would contend the Likud chairmanship, should Sharon choose to quit, has yet to give Sharon his answer.
Shimon Peres (Labor party), who had long talks with Sharon regarding future cooperation, will not leave jis party to join Sharon's new party.

Likud is expected to face a battle over party leadership following Sharon's withdrawal.

Following Sharon's ouster, Likud Central Committee chairman Tzachi Hanegbi has been appointed temporary Likud secretary-general.

According to a poll commissioned by the Knesset Channel, former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is far ahead of his rivals for the Likud leadership, with support of 41 percent of the voters. (JPost)

Army Radio said March 8, 2006 was now the most likely date for elections.

There are rumors, the name of PM Sharon's new centrist party will be Ahrayut Leumit (= National Responsibility)

[edit on 21-11-2005 by Riwka]

FredT

posted on Nov, 21 2005 @ 04:37 AM

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Riwka,

Was there any indication that this was going to happen?

Desolate Cancer

posted on Nov, 21 2005 @ 11:19 AM

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yea def sounds very inteligent of him to do so, i hope for everyone his new party is succesfull in the elections so that i wont have to listen to any more BS about another suicide bomber or israeli airstrike, or about how iran wants to wipe them off the earth, then also maybe the US will stop sending israel billions in aid and use that money for its own citizens.