The incumbent Prime Minister may be enjoying wide support from the public, but he is facing difficulties within his own Likud party. Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has increased his margin of support among Likud voters, and now leads by a 51%-30% margin over Ariel Sharon. These are the findings of an internal party poll taken this week. Another poll shows that among the 62.5% who supported Sharon in the election last year, 36% support Netanyahu, and only 28% would vote for Sharon.
Appearing before a gathering of Likud activists last night, Netanyahu said that the Palestinian Authority should be liquidated, and intimated that Sharon is flubbing the opportunity to do that. Sharon, for his part, said today that he is sorry he didn\'t kill Arafat in Beirut [during the Peace for Galille War of 1982], but now, \"if Arafat does what is demanded of him, he could return to be our partner.\" He said again that for \"true peace, I would be willing to cede parts of the Land of Israel,\" and predicted that, \"in the end, a Palestinian state will be established.\"
Appearing before a gathering of Likud activists last night, Netanyahu said that the Palestinian Authority should be liquidated, and intimated that Sharon is flubbing the opportunity to do that. Sharon, for his part, said today that he is sorry he didn\'t kill Arafat in Beirut [during the Peace for Galille War of 1982], but now, \"if Arafat does what is demanded of him, he could return to be our partner.\" He said again that for \"true peace, I would be willing to cede parts of the Land of Israel,\" and predicted that, \"in the end, a Palestinian state will be established.\"