Politically, the Likud had been hoping that the corruption suspicions against it, and the resultant loss of electoral support, had neared the end of their rope, and that the party could begin gaining back support as Election Day nears. The latest story, however, could "trip the switch" on another downfall, leaving the final election outcome in doubt. Likud insiders had long said that as long as the corruption suspicions touch only the low-level Knesset candidates - later they sufficed with just higher-level MKs - the party would do OK. Now that Prime Minister Sharon himself is involved, party officials are wondering if the party will be able to recover in the remaining 20 days.
Labor spokesperson Yuli Tamir has already judged Sharon, and has come to some far-reaching political conclusions: "We will certainly not sit [in a unity government] under Sharon's leadership, because Sharon, in the corruption of moral standards that he caused the party and the country, is unworthy of being prime minister," she told Army Radio today. "This is completely clear to everyone."
The story also has a media angle. Who leaked the story, at such critical timing before the election, to the press? Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein is said to be "furious" at the leak, and Justice Ministry officials have blamed the police for leaking word of the six-month-old investigation. Strongly condemning the involvement of the law-enforcement bodies in the political system, he said today that the leak was intended to influence the upcoming election. Police Commissioner Aharonishki condemned the leak, and said he views "with great gravity" the publication of this information, and that it is "harmful to the investigation."
Staffers in the Likud campaign headquarters say that the leak was "intentional and deceitful," and "the media and the leakers have banded together to lie to the public in order to replace the government." Amos Schoken, publisher of Ha'aretz, which first publicized the story, said that such accusations are groundless. "We are just fulfilling our obligation to bring information to the public," he said, adding that if the leak caused damage, "it shouldn't have been leaked."
Benny Mazagini, whose boss Naomi Blumental was recently fired by Sharon for having remained silent in the face of police questioning, had a strong reaction to the case. "As a Prime Minister who seeks the confidence of the nation," Mazagini told Ynet, "he must tell whatever he knows of this story, and not hide behind his advisors. If he is unable to explain this to the public before the elections, he should resign."
Labor spokesperson Yuli Tamir has already judged Sharon, and has come to some far-reaching political conclusions: "We will certainly not sit [in a unity government] under Sharon's leadership, because Sharon, in the corruption of moral standards that he caused the party and the country, is unworthy of being prime minister," she told Army Radio today. "This is completely clear to everyone."
The story also has a media angle. Who leaked the story, at such critical timing before the election, to the press? Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein is said to be "furious" at the leak, and Justice Ministry officials have blamed the police for leaking word of the six-month-old investigation. Strongly condemning the involvement of the law-enforcement bodies in the political system, he said today that the leak was intended to influence the upcoming election. Police Commissioner Aharonishki condemned the leak, and said he views "with great gravity" the publication of this information, and that it is "harmful to the investigation."
Staffers in the Likud campaign headquarters say that the leak was "intentional and deceitful," and "the media and the leakers have banded together to lie to the public in order to replace the government." Amos Schoken, publisher of Ha'aretz, which first publicized the story, said that such accusations are groundless. "We are just fulfilling our obligation to bring information to the public," he said, adding that if the leak caused damage, "it shouldn't have been leaked."
Benny Mazagini, whose boss Naomi Blumental was recently fired by Sharon for having remained silent in the face of police questioning, had a strong reaction to the case. "As a Prime Minister who seeks the confidence of the nation," Mazagini told Ynet, "he must tell whatever he knows of this story, and not hide behind his advisors. If he is unable to explain this to the public before the elections, he should resign."