Binyamin Netanyahu will, in fact, be sworn in as Foreign Minister tomorrow morning in the Knesset. Netanyahu, who was Prime Minister from 1996-1999 and hopes to assume the post again three months from now, held his own press conference early this afternoon. He emphasized that elections now are not "the least of all evils," as Sharon had said, but rather "the best thing that could happen to Israel at this time." He pointedly avoided promising to form a unity government if elected Prime Minister - again in clear contrast to Sharon - and promised instead a government of "solutions" for the "pressing problems facing Israel."
Sharon and Netanyahu will face off in an internal party race for head of the Likud within a number of weeks; Moshe Feiglin of the Likud's new Jewish Leadership faction also plans to run. Netanyahu said today that he hopes that Sharon agrees to promise, as Netanyahu did, to remain in the Likud even if he loses the race for party leader.
Likud faction head MK Ze'ev Boim, in apparent recognition of the ill will between the two men, called on Sharon and Netanyahu to agree on a rotation agreement, in order to prevent a contest between them that will hurt the party.
Sharon and Netanyahu will face off in an internal party race for head of the Likud within a number of weeks; Moshe Feiglin of the Likud's new Jewish Leadership faction also plans to run. Netanyahu said today that he hopes that Sharon agrees to promise, as Netanyahu did, to remain in the Likud even if he loses the race for party leader.
Likud faction head MK Ze'ev Boim, in apparent recognition of the ill will between the two men, called on Sharon and Netanyahu to agree on a rotation agreement, in order to prevent a contest between them that will hurt the party.