Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, July 18, 2002
Likud Becomes Israel's Largest Political Party
After signing up more than 70,000new members in less than two weeks, as part of an ongoing mass registration drive, the Likud, with more than 170,000 members, surpassed the Labor Party Wednesday as Israel's largest party.
After signing up more than 70,000new members in less than two weeks, as part of an ongoing mass registration drive, the Likud, with more than 170,000 members, surpassed the Labor Party Wednesday as Israel's largest party.
The right-wing Likud party hopes to register thousands more people before its July 31 registration deadline, using radio advertisements and its hot line.
Former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu used an automated system to call a few thousand former Likud members and volunteers and ask them to join the party. Netanyahu's supporters claimed an overwhelming majority of 70,000.
A Netanyahu aide revealed that Sharon's right hand, Likud Director-General Arik Brami, called Prime Minister's Office Director-General Avigdor Yitzhaki and admitted that Sharon is losing support to Netanyahu in the drive.
Israel Channel 2 reported that for the first time, hundreds of kibbutz members are shifting from Labor to the Likud.