Handwringing at AFP: Sharon's new party gaining power
Ariel Sharonâs political rivals are voicing increasing alarm that the tidal wave triggered by the prime ministerâs formation of a new centrist party is threatening to engulf Israeli democracy. Having poached leading figures from all his main competitors, the latest polls show that Sharonâs Kadima party is on course to trounce all-comers at a March 28 parliamentary election. Only three weeks after its formation, a survey in yesterdayâs Yediot Aharonot daily predicted Kadima would have double the number of seats (41) in the next Knesset than its nearest rival, the center-left Labour party. The bulk of support comes from voters who supported Likud, the right-wing party led by Sharon for five years until he became fed up battling hard-liners.I'd submit that the saber-rattling from Tehran is intensifying and the Israeli pols (reluctantly, I'm sure) realize they'll need to face it together and let Arik continue to take the heat. |
Posted by: Seafarious 2005-12-14 |