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Netanyahu's Candidacy Announcement Draws Mixed Reactions
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement Sunday, December 10, to run for the leadership of the opposition Likud and the prime minister drew mixed reactions from the political arena.
In an initial response, the Labor Party led by Prime Minister Ehud Barak said "citizens of Israel witnessed tonight (Sunday night) the old Netanyahu who returned to lie on television, but the public remembers the facts."
Ariel Sharon, chairman of the Likud, said that he welcomed any candidate and that the leader of the party would be determined by the party's primaries.
Knesset (parliament) member Limor Livnat, a staunch supporter of Netanyahu, said the former hard-line prime minister opened the door for the Likud's victory in the early elections and that the Knesset "cannot go against the will of the majority of the public."
Livnat said the Knesset should decide to dissolve itself and hold new elections in which Netanyahu can participate.
The right-wing National Religious Party and Yisrael-Beiteinu also welcomed Netanyahu's return.
In contrast, leader of the left-wing Meretz party Yossi Sarid " thanked" Netanyahu's appearance which he said would help Barak better than Barak's own appearance Saturday night when he announced his resignation.
Netanyahu has been considered a big threat to both Barak and Sharon as he has been leading the recent public opinion polls.
However, Netanyahu, who resigned from the Knesset after losing the 1999 general elections, is ineligible for the candidacy of the premiership as Israel's current direct elections law stipulates that only serving Knesset members have the right to enter for a special election for the prime minister.
If the Knesset is dissolved and general elections will be held for both the premiership and the Knesset members, a party can submit the candidacy of anyone for prime minister, according to the law.
Barak's move to resign is seen widely as a tactical move to block Netanyahu from making a political comeback.
The resignation will take effect by Tuesday and early elections for the prime minister will be held within 60 days.
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