Despair is beginning to creep into the Netanyahu camp, as the most recent polls show that Ariel Sharon has opened up a 20-24% margin over the current Foreign Minister. The Netanyahu camp says that the gap is about half that, but is not optimistic.
Sharon appeared before a Hadera crowd last night in his last public appearance before tomorrow's Likud Party election for party leader. He went so far as to mention the list of ministers he intends to appoint after his expected victories over Netanyahu tomorrow and Amram Mitzna of Labor in January. The list includes Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and the current Likud ministers, beginning with those who expressed public support for him. Netanyahu was not mentioned, but neither was Sha'ul Mofaz, to whom Sharon has promised the Defense Ministry. Sharon did not say that he would form a national unity government, but rather that it would be "as broad as possible." On the other hand, he also said he would reduce the number of ministers from 25 to 18.
Sharon appeared before a Hadera crowd last night in his last public appearance before tomorrow's Likud Party election for party leader. He went so far as to mention the list of ministers he intends to appoint after his expected victories over Netanyahu tomorrow and Amram Mitzna of Labor in January. The list includes Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and the current Likud ministers, beginning with those who expressed public support for him. Netanyahu was not mentioned, but neither was Sha'ul Mofaz, to whom Sharon has promised the Defense Ministry. Sharon did not say that he would form a national unity government, but rather that it would be "as broad as possible." On the other hand, he also said he would reduce the number of ministers from 25 to 18.