First among equals

The emergence on to the Israeli political scene of former Army Chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak had a frosty reception from the established part...

The emergence on to the Israeli political scene of former Army Chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak had a frosty reception from the established parties of right and left who fear the centrist general will sweep them aside in early elections next year. But Lipkin-Shahak, who turned in his uniform in order to start preparing his candidacy for the post of prime minister, is riding high in the polls.

The latest survey, published in Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot shows him best placed of any candidate to beat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He would win by 49 per cent to 37 in a second round, whereas Labour leader Ehud Barak would have a much narrower victory, only 44 per cent to 42, the poll suggested.

However, the poll showed 14 per cent of the electorate still undecided, which could change the balance in Netanyahu8217;s favour, since wavering voters tend to choose the right-wing candidate. And commentators point out that before the last elections in 1996, Netanyahu was faring even worse, but came from behind toscore a knife-edge victory over then Labour prime minister Shimon Peres.

Meanwhile, Lipkin-Shahak is preparing for the political battle. He appealed to Israelis to rally to the centrist party he intends to create around defectors from the right and possibly from the left as well. But he remained vague on his political programme, merely speaking in general terms about the 8220;need for peace8221;.

8220;The ultimate goal is to beat Netanyahu and the only way to do this is through a centrist party,8221; he said. He accused the Prime Minister of 8220;exploiting hatred,8221; which he said was 8220;helping to make Israeli society fall apart8221;. There has been speculation that Lipkin-Shahak will join forces with popular ex-finance minister Dan Meridor, who announced he was quitting Netanyahu8217;s Likud Party to run for prime minister as head of a centrist party.

But the first personality to call for a new centrist gathering favouring compromise with the Arabs was another Likud defector, former Tel Aviv mayor Roni Milo. If the threeget together, commentators predict both personality and policy problems. Milo, well known for his uncompromising stand against the imposition of religious laws on secular Jews, could lose the party the votes of the Orthodox, his partners fear.

Lipkin-Shahak8217;s vagueness has provoked charges of hypocrisy. 8220;I do not hide my political ideas,8221; Netanyahu told journalists, contrasting himself with his rival, while the outgoing government secretary-general, Danny Naveh, described the general as a 8220;leftist in disguise8221;.

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That is a charge Lipkin-Shahak would deny. He told Haaretz that he would not join the Labour Party 8220;so as not to be identified with the left8221;. Not surprisingly, Labour is not enchanted with the former general either. 8220;It is shameful that Mr Shahak should attack the party of Yitzhak Rabin,8221; said Labour parliamentary leader Elie Goldsmidt, in reference to the former prime minister assassinated by a right-wing extremist in 1995.

But the real worry is that a Lipkin-Shahak candidacywould only serve to weaken Barak8217;s chances and increase the likelihood of Netanyahu remaining in office, a concern given weight by announcements already made by some party members that they intend to join his new centrist party. Israeli radio reported a new challenge to Netanyahu from the right. Parliamentary defence and foreign affairs committee chairman Uzi Landau is to announce that he will enter the Likud primary which will select the party8217;s candidate for the post of prime minister, the radio said.

The date of the general elections is due to be set next week. They can be held at any time between March and June but are expected to be held in late April.

Agence France Presse