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Peres Decides to Run for Israeli Prime Minister
Israeli former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, has decided to run for prime minister, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday, December 20.
Peres made the decision after consultations with leaders of the left-wing Meretz Party, the support of whose 10 members in the parliament, or the Knesset, is vital for his candidacy.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak resigned on December 10, prompting a special election for the top post of the Jewish state within 60 days, with the Knesset kept intact.
Recent public opinion polls have showed that Peres has a chance to beat Barak in the first round and opposition Likud leader Ariel Sharon in the run-off.
In the consultations, Peres said, however, that he would withdraw from the race if Barak manages to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians by January 20, when U.S. President Bill Clinton leaves office, and throw support to him.
Peres expressed confidence that only he can rally the peace camp into a coalition with Israeli-Arab and ultra-Orthodox voters if no peace deal is reached before the election, expected in early February.
Israel Radio said that he began to collect signatories to support his candidacy Wednesday morning.
Under Israeli laws, any Knesset member who wants to run for prime minister in a special election must get support from 10 colleagues.
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