The Hindu : Front Page : Sharon forms new party, calls for polls

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Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005

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Front Page

Sharon forms new party, calls for polls

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday quit the governing Likud party, announced the formation of a new party and called for early polls.

Israeli President Moshe Katsav, on whom Mr. Sharon called earlier in the day, said he would disband Parliament (Knesset). Elections would be held on March 28. "The Prime Minister asked me to dissolve the Knesset as it cannot function properly in its current form."

The new party that Mr. Sharon would head is called the National Responsibility Party. Mr. Sharon presided over the first meeting of the party, which had 11 parliamentarians in attendance. Later, Mr. Sharon told newspersons that the purpose of establishing a new party was to usher in a new "liberal movement" in Israel.

Mr. Sharon hoped to attract 14 lawmakers, thereby casting a big blow to the Likud Party that he had once helped to form.

Mr. Sharon's move follows strong opposition from Likud hardliners to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The centre-Left Labour Party had also confirmed that it was pulling out of the coalition Government. Mr. Sharon described Likud in its present state as a party that was unable to give "strategic" direction to present-day Israel.

The formation of Mr. Sharon's party is likely to change the political landscape of Israel substantially. Israeli voters are expected to have three clear-cut choices — the right-wing Likud, Mr. Sharon's "centrist" party and the centre-Left Labour. The Israeli English daily Haaretz quoted Likud officials as saying that the new party would be a "true centrist party from every perspective: political, economic and social."

Labour politician and Minister Yitzhak Herzog said fracturing of the Likud would help his party and the peace process.

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