Ariel Sharon became the first prime minister in recent history to win a consecutive term in office on January 28 when his Likud Party won the Israeli general election.
Nationally, Likud took 37 seats in the Knesset, compared to the 19 that it held previously. Labour fell from 26 seats to 19, while Shinui, a relatively new party, increased its share of seats from 6 to 15. The right-wing Shas Party fell from 17 to 11 seats and Meeretz, which emerged from the peace movement, won 6 seats, compared to 10 at the previous election.
With a US-led attack imminent against Iraq, Sharon will undoubtedly seek to use his victory to escalate his military suppression of the Palestinians under the guise of the “war against terror”. Sections of the American press implicitly endorsed this policy, hailing the result as a sign that Israeli voters “endorse tough tactics” ( Washington Post).
Nationally, Likud took 37 seats in the Knesset, compared to the 19 that it held previously. Labour fell from 26 seats to 19, while Shinui, a relatively new party, increased its share of seats from 6 to 15. The right-wing Shas Party fell from 17 to 11 seats and Meeretz, which emerged from the peace movement, won 6 seats, compared to 10 at the previous election.
With a US-led attack imminent against Iraq, Sharon will undoubtedly seek to use his victory to escalate his military suppression of the Palestinians under the guise of the “war against terror”. Sections of the American press implicitly endorsed this policy, hailing the result as a sign that Israeli voters “endorse tough tactics” ( Washington Post).