Sharon Faces Tough Election Challenge from Peretz and Netanyahu

Strategic Insights -

With the March election looming, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon may find himself facing stiff competition from Labour Party leader Amir Peretz and Likud candidate Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite a strong lead in the polls, Sharon's challengers have already begun making waves with their distinct world views and policy proposals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Amir Peretz, the new Labour Party leader, has emerged as a strong contender in the election with his proposals for a fairer distribution of wealth and care for the downtrodden.
  • Peretz's focus on social issues has resonated with the public, who have welcomed a change from the Palestinian issue dominating the agenda.
  • Peretz, a socialist, has called for far-reaching concessions to the Palestinians and negotiations with Syria, contrasting with Netanyahu's tough stance on the Arabs.
  • Netanyahu, a charismatic leader with a strong following on the right, has been criticized for being too smooth-tongued and ideologically hardline.
  • Sharon, known as The Bulldozer, has a broad spectrum of support from voters who trust his judgment, but may need to work hard to stay ahead of his opponents.
  • Peretz's potential base includes immigrants from Arab countries, who constitute close to half the population, providing him with a broad reservoir of potential supporters.
  • Netanyahu has a potential base among those Israelis who are loath to make concessions to the Palestinians.
  • Sharon has agreed to serve as finance minister after being defeated as prime minister by Labour's Ehud Barak in 1999.

Statistics:

  • 56: the age of Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • 82: the age of Shimon Peres, the Labour Party leader Peretz defeated in the primary election.
  • 120: the number of seats in the Israeli legislature.
  • 1952: the year Amir Peretz was born in Morocco.
  • 1988: the year Amir Perez was elected to the Knesset and Benjamin Netanyahu became deputy chief of mission in the Israeli embassy in Washington.
  • 1996: the year Benjamin Netanyahu became Israel's youngest prime minister.
  • 1999: the year Netanyahu was defeated by Labour's Ehud Barak and relinquished the Likud leadership.
  • 2000: the year Ariel Sharon won the premiership in elections.
  • 1/2: the proportion of the population that are immigrants from Arab countries.

Sources:

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CNN International

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Jerusalem Times, 20 February 2006