Israel's Likud covers its bases ahead of election

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel's Likud party took steps Thursday to ensure it could still field a candidate for prime minister if Benjamin Netanyahu wins its primary election and then can't -- or won't -- run for office.

Party members will cast two ballots Tuesday -- one for a candidate on a list that includes right-winger Netanyahu's name and the other for a candidate on a list that excludes him, Likud officials said.

RESOURCES In-Depth: Israel Election 2001

Likud decided on the double list because under Israeli law Netanyahu cannot run in a prime ministerial election which Ehud Barak forced by resigning Sunday.

The snap ballot, due within two months, is open only to legislators and Netanyahu gave up his Knesset seat after losing the 1999 vote for prime minister to Barak.

The Knesset has passed preliminary legislation -- already dubbed the "Bibi bill" -- that would open the special prime ministerial election to all comers.

It is also considering a bill that would dissolve parliament and lead to a general election in which Netanyahu could participate.

With December 21 the cut-off date for political parties to name their candidates for prime minister, Likud could have been left in the lurch if it gave the nod to Netanyahu and it turned out he could not, or would not, run.

Netanyahu wants Parliament to dissolve itself

Netanyahu has publicly urged parliament to choose the dissolution option, saying that leaving legislators in place while Israel chooses a new leader would only perpetuate a left-right divide and political paralysis.

Associates of Netanyahu have been quoted by the Israeli media as saying he would opt not to run if parliament went the other route and passed a law allowing non-legislators to be candidates in the snap prime ministerial election.

"Whether he will run or not depends on another question -- what happens next week in Knesset," senior Likud member Danny Naveh told Israel Radio. He was referring to further readings of the two bills that could turn them into law.

So far only Netanyahu and the current Likud leader, Ariel Sharon, have declared themselves candidates in the primary election.

Polls show that Netanyahu has the best chance at ousting Barak.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Knesset, The Israeli Parliament
Likud
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian National Authority

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