Sharon set to defend his leadership

From Ynetnews - News 19/9/2005...

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon leaves New York on way back to Israel, prepares for Likud battle against Benjamin Netanyahu. PM's associates confident Sharon will win, dismiss reports he has decided to leave ruling party
Attila Somfalvi, New York

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was scheduled to leave New York Sunday on his way back to Israel, after a week of diplomatic success and a warm reception by world leaders.

. . . Sharon will return . . . to Israel's internal political swamp, which the prime minister left last week, allowing his Likud rivals Benjamin Netanyahu and Uzi Landau to take the stage uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, Sharon's close associates dismissed reports suggesting the prime minister has already decided to leave the ruling Likud party, saying such decision was never taken.

. . . On September 26, members of the Central Committee will be asked to vote on pushing primaries for the party’s leadership forward, in what is seen as a direct challenge aimed at toppling the prime minister.

Sharon’s associates criticized those quoted in the Israeli media as saying the PM decided to leave the Likud and said their comments stemmed from personal motives and caused damage.

. . .During his first days back in Israel, Sharon is expected to mainly deal with political matters and is set to prepare for the Central Committee battle, with the main objective being an attempt to curb the momentum in favor of Netanyahu.

Shalom to back PM
. . .Sources close to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he too will undertake efforts to prevent a Likud split and will help Sharon win the upcoming Likud vote. Shalom associates told Ynet the main objective is to reject the proposal to push forward the primaries, thus leaving Sharon as head of the party and the country.

. . .Meanwhile, despite Sharon’s trip, his close advisors and activists within the Likud continued to act intensively in order to ensure his victory. According to estimates, if voter turnout rates are high enough, the Prime Minister will be able to defeat the early primaries proposal on September 26.