Israel polls: Barak lands windfall

8220;Until the past few days I was convinced that I could attain the objectives I had set if I could become prime minister and with the help of my party,8221; he said. 8220;But this Sabbath, after talks with my family and friends, I decided to take this decision,8221; he said.

And, amid Palestinian hope that Benjamin Netanyahu would not be re-elected, Israel goes to polls tomorrow to choose a prime minister who will decide the fate of the stalled peace process in the Middle-East.

Monday8217;s poll clash between Likud party chief and current incumbent Netanyahu and opposition Labour chief Ehud Barak, would decide the way the peace process goes,given the difference in opinion between the two leaders on an independent Palestinian statehood.

The Palestinians, who held Netanyahu responsible for the deadlock in the peace process, however, did not openly endorse Barak fearing that any perceived interference in Israeli polls may backfire and drive undecided voters into Netanyahu8217;s camp.

While Netanyahu had opposed Palestinian statehood saying it would endanger Israel8217;s security, Barak advocated a quot;separationquot; between Israeli and Palestinian populations, a position closely associated with separate statehood for Palestine.

The two leaders also differed in regard to the status of Jerusalem, with Netanyahu saying the future of the holy city, including its eastern sector which was claimed by the Palestinians, was non-negotiable and Barak saying that he would keep Jerusalem united.

Netanyahu had earlier frozen the US brokered land for security8217; deal reached at Wye plantation, six weeks after it was signed on the ground that Palestinians had not mettheir commitments. He maintained that he would not hand over more land to the Palestinians unless they cracked down on militants. Barak, on the other hand, said the accords should be eventually implemented.

While Netanyahu insisted that the Jewish settlements would not be dismantled and would remain under Israeli sovereignty, Barak said given power, his government could dismantle isolated communities.

The Israeli voters, in tomorrow8217;s polls, will cast separate ballots for prime minister and for parties seeking election to the 120-seat Knesset or parliament. To be elected premier, a candidate has to win more than 50 per cent of total votes. If no candidate gets that margin, a second round of polling between the top two candidates will be held on June one.

However, the fate of the parties seeking to represent at the Knesset will be decided tomorrow. To get elected, a party must win 1.5 per cent of the total 4.29 million Israeli votes.