World News 20-12-2000 Barak and Sharon Go Head To Head who: Benjamin Netanyahu what: Withdraws from prime ministerial election race where: Israel when: Yesterday snippet: The former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said last week that he would challenge Ehud Barak for leadership of Israel, yesterday withrew from the race leaving Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon as the only other realistic candidate. Netanyahu had said he would only run for prime minister if there was a general election, but many Israelis believe that he has been outwitted by Mr Barak, reports The Guardian. Mr Barak had called for parliament to be dissolved but he "calculated correctly that Israel`s parliament, or knesset, would balk at the prospect of a general election only 18 months after the last one". "I could run and I am sure I would be elected," Mr Netanyahu said yesterday. "I will consider running once the knesset disperses itself." "At 72, Mr Sharon is in the twilight of his political career and is not considered a long-term candidate for prime minister," says The Telegraph. "Polls give him only a marginal lead over Mr Barak". [... more]

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