THE SHARON VICTORY: THE OVERVIEW; SHARON EASILY OUSTS BARAK TO BECOME ISRAEL'S PREMIER; CALLS FOR A RECONCILIATION (original) (raw)
World|THE SHARON VICTORY: THE OVERVIEW; SHARON EASILY OUSTS BARAK TO BECOME ISRAEL'S PREMIER; CALLS FOR A RECONCILIATION
Advertisement
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
THE SHARON VICTORY: THE OVERVIEW
- Feb. 7, 2001
See the article in its original context from
February 7, 2001
,
Section A, Page
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
Ariel Sharon, a burly 72-year-old hawk who heads a newly reinvigorated right wing, rode a wave of national anxiety to an overwhelming electoral victory on Tuesday as Israel's fifth prime minister in more than five years.
Concluding a campaign held against a backdrop of the worst Israeli-Palestinian violence in years, Mr. Sharon defeated Prime Minister Ehud Barak by a walloping 62 to 38 percent of the votes, with 90 percent of the polling stations counted. The margin is unprecedented in Israeli electoral history, as was the low voter turnout, following expressions of disaffection with the candidates and the political system.
At a fairgrounds in Tel Aviv, Mr. Sharon, grinning in exultation, gave a highly conciliatory victory speech about healing Israel's rifts and proposed a national unity government. Immediately beforehand, he said, he had spoken with President Bush, who reminded him of a trip that they had taken through the West Bank in 1998.
''He said to me, 'No one would have believed then that I would be president and you would be prime minister,' '' Mr. Sharon said, chuckling, after hearing the phrase ''Prime Minister Ariel Sharon'' echoing for the first time through a large pavilion of cheering supporters.
Mr. Barak conceded the election shortly before midnight on Tuesday, looking tired but still campaigning, this time for his own place in history. He surprised both Mr. Sharon and his own advisers by announcing that he would step down as Labor Party leader, too, and resign his Parliament seat. His action pitches the Labor Party into a succession battle and makes the chances of a unity government less likely.
Mr. Sharon prefers a unity coalition with the Labor Party in order to stabilize his government. This special election was for the premiership alone, and Mr. Sharon now faces the challenge of building a viable coalition in an unruly Parliament that was elected with Mr. Barak in 1999.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement