Netanyahu to run against Sharon in party elections
Hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu will announce next week that he intends to run against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in primary elections for the ruling Likud Party, a close supporter said today.
Netanyahu, a former prime minister, would beat Sharon in Likud primaries, 42% to 35%, according to a poll published today in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper.
The poll also showed that most Israelis were in favour of further withdrawals from the West Bank.
But Sharon remains more popular with the general public, according to the poll. In national elections, Sharon, aligned with a new, centrist party, would beat Netanyahu 24% to 16%, the daily newspaper said.
The survey found 54% of Israelis wanted more pullouts from the territory the Palestinians want for a future state, while 42% did not.
