Israel sets March 28 date for election
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-23 19:33

Israel's president and parliament speaker agreed Wednesday to hold general elections March 28, a top parliament official said.

The agreement kicks off a campaign centering on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new centrist party and its potential to shake the country's political structure to its foundations.

The new election date is eight months ahead of schedule. The change was forced by a rebellion in Sharon's Likud party over his Gaza withdrawal and a decision by his coalition partner, the moderate Labor Party, to leave the government.

President Moshe Katsav and Parliament Speaker Reuven Rivlin agreed on the date in a meeting, said parliament spokesman Giorda Pordes.

Earlier this week, Sharon quit Likud, the party he helped found in 1973 and opened the possibility of the first major political realignment since 1977, when Likud rose to power for the first time.

For decades, Israel's body politic has been split almost evenly between those who favor concessions for peace with the Palestinians and those who oppose them. Sharon, leader of the hard-liners, suddenly broke with Likud's hawkish ideology with the Gaza pullout this summer.

A good showing by Sharon's new party, combined with increased support for the traditionally dovish Labor, could break the long-standing stalemate.

Newspaper polls predicted Sharon's party would win the election, with a rejuvenated Labor Party placing second and the remainder of Likud far behind.

Sharon's opponents in his old party began the race to replace him, while taking potshots at their former leader.

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the front-runner to head Likud, called Sharon a dictator. He said he pursued "one-man-rule, who apparently doesn't recognize democracy, and is setting up a party of puppets."

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom announced Tuesday he would challenge Netanyahu, joining Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Agriculture Minister Israel Katz and former Cabinet minister Uzi Landau in the race to lead Likud into the next election. Acting Likud chairman Tzachi Hanegbi recommended the party hold elections for a new leader Dec. 19.