Despite Prime Minister Barak’s prediction that the gaps in the polls between himself and Ariel Sharon would begin to narrow in the days preceding the election, surveys released today and last night still show a 20% margin of victory for the Likud candidate. Barak has not given up, however, and his supporters flooded 120 main intersections today with campaign literature. Shlomit Amichai, Director-General of the Education Ministry, called upon school principals not to allow students to take part in electioneering today.
The Prime Minister has come out with yet another apology - this time for what has become known as his policy of zig-zagging. In a campaign letter delivered to hundreds of thousands of citizens throughout the country, Barak writes, “I knew that I was entering a field strewn with mines, through which I would sometimes have to zig-zag in order to pass safely through…” Senior Labor party figures have criticized the letter: “Barak’s apology to the Arabs was acceptable, but it was not necessary for him to admit to having zig-zagged,” one source told Ma’ariv today. Barak’s announcement that he does not plan to step down from the Labor party leadership even if he loses the election was also not warmly received in the party.
Barak continues to work hard for the Arab vote, but Arab MKs Bishara and Tibi said again today that the Israeli-Arab population would make its voice heard by abstaining in the election. The Prime Minister verbally attacked Sharon and his alliance with the religious parties today, as evidenced by the hareidi endorsement of Sharon’s candidacy this week. The Likud, for its part, is concerned that the large gaps shown by the polls in favor of its candidate may lead to a low turnout among his supporters.
The Prime Minister has come out with yet another apology - this time for what has become known as his policy of zig-zagging. In a campaign letter delivered to hundreds of thousands of citizens throughout the country, Barak writes, “I knew that I was entering a field strewn with mines, through which I would sometimes have to zig-zag in order to pass safely through…” Senior Labor party figures have criticized the letter: “Barak’s apology to the Arabs was acceptable, but it was not necessary for him to admit to having zig-zagged,” one source told Ma’ariv today. Barak’s announcement that he does not plan to step down from the Labor party leadership even if he loses the election was also not warmly received in the party.
Barak continues to work hard for the Arab vote, but Arab MKs Bishara and Tibi said again today that the Israeli-Arab population would make its voice heard by abstaining in the election. The Prime Minister verbally attacked Sharon and his alliance with the religious parties today, as evidenced by the hareidi endorsement of Sharon’s candidacy this week. The Likud, for its part, is concerned that the large gaps shown by the polls in favor of its candidate may lead to a low turnout among his supporters.