Likud Party Rejects Palestinian State

May 12, 2002

NEW YORK — In a major defeat for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that may presage a fight over his rulership, the ruling Likud party has voted to reject the creation of a Palestinian state.


The vote, by a show of hands, of members of the Likud Central Committee, was overwhelmingly against accepting the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. Sharon, who wanted to have leeway to maneuver in peace negotiations, had strongly opposed the resolution and tried to prevent the vote.

Though the party body does not have the power to remove Sharon from office, the vote showed his political weakness in his own camp and might limit his effectiveness.

Behind the confrontation with Sharon was ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who has announced his challenge for party leadership and is taking steps to reclaim the top spot.

Only a handful of delegates voted against the Netanyahu-backed resolution, which read, "No Palestinian state will be created west of the Jordan (River)," referring to the area including the West Bank, Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Likud has traditionally opposed Palestinian statehood, but Sharon has said that under stringent conditions, he would agree to creation of such a state, at one point calling it "inevitable."

Instead of the resolution opposing a Palestinian state, Sharon asked the convention to approve a resolution backing his government in its efforts for peace and security. In a secret ballot, delegates voted against Sharon's proposal by a margin of 59 to 41 percent, a stinging defeat for the prime minister.

Looking defiant but uncomfortable, Sharon took the podium and made a brief statement after losing the vote on his resolution. He said he would honor the decisions of his party's central committee, but added that his ultimate goal is peace.

"I will continue to lead the state of Israel and the people of Israel according to the same ideas that led me always -- security for the state of Israel and its citizens and our desire for real peace."

Then Sharon exited the hall, walking behind Netanyahu without looking at him, before the delegates quickly approved the resolution opposing creation of a Palestinian state.

Israeli newspapers had encouraged Likud to pass over Netanyahu's ideas.

"Does anyone still believe a Palestinian state can be stopped?" asked the Maariv daily in an editorial that said the supposedly ideological debate was actually a power struggle between Sharon and Netanyahu.

Columnist Uzi Benziman wrote in Haaretz that "anyone who opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state ... proposes just two solutions to the Palestinian problem: transfer (of Palestinians to another country) or apartheid."

During his speech before the vote, Sharon also reiterated his support for a regional peace conference, something Netanyahu strongly opposed.

"The nation of Israel wants peace," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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