January 26, 2003

Likud worried only about complacency

By Gil Hoffman

Concerned that polls predicting a landslide Likud victory in Tuesday's election could make voters complacent, the party began a new campaign on Saturday night, warning the public that, without a strong Likud, Israel may be subjected to its fourth election in four years.

The Likud campaign chairman, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, ordered a boost in the party's Election Day budget from NIS 9 million to nearly 10m., more than triple what any other party intends to spend on Tuesday. The entire Likud faction has been drafted to promote the new campaign under the slogan, "A strong Mahal or elections again."

"We need to have a strong Likud so there won't be elections again in a year and a half," Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told a Jerusalem rally.

Olmert, who spoke at the same rally, said the Likud needs at least 37 mandates to build a coalition that can last four years. He said the failure of the past few governments to fill out their terms has made the state inherently unstable and that Tuesday's poll must put an end to the pattern.

"We're under pressure because we haven't reached the point where we can form a stable government yet," Olmert, who is 32nd on the Likud list, told The Jerusalem Post. "The number of mandates the polls currently predict would still make it difficult for the government to function effectively. We haven't reached the stage where we can build a Likud-led government that can last." In the absence of a significant challenge from Labor, Olmert said that the Likud's main opponents are overconfidence and newspaper headlines that tell voters the election is already over.

"We haven't won this election yet," Olmert told the rally. "We still have to work hard to win on Tuesday. The time to celebrate has not arrived yet. I hope Labor will get between 15 and 17 mandates, but this isn't the only struggle. If the Likud doesn't get more mandates, it will be difficult to form a government."

However, Olmert's message about not showing overconfidence was contradicted by the appearance at the event of two figures who have been accused of corruption.

Likud MK Nomi Blumenthal and Jerusalem vote contractor Yitzhak Kaufman sat next to each other at the head table. Blumenthal briefly addressed the crowd, which received her with affection.

Olmert expressed confidence that the Likud would be able to form a national-unity government with Labor and said he hopes to see his friend, Shinui leader Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, in the government. But he declined to speculate on the possible makeup of the coalition.

Scoffing at Labor Party chairman Amram Mitzna's repeated statements ruling out joining a Likud-led government, Olmert said, "Experience shows that there's often a gap between what people say before and after an election."

While officials in Sharon's camp have been unwavering in their support for a national-unity government, Netanyahu's camp has spoken openly of their preference for a right-wing government that would be more likely to keep the Foreign Ministry in Netanyahu's hands.

Transportation and Environment Minister Tzahi Hanegbi has spoken out against forming a national-unity government, and MK Yisrael Katz said at the rally that he hopes Mitzna will serve as opposition leader.

Olmert, who has received a commitment from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to receive a senior portfolio, sat next to Netanyahu at the event. He declined to say whether he intends to pursue Netanyahu's foreign portfolio or whether he would be satisfied with the Interior Ministry, which Sharon said he would like to keep in Likud hands.

Education Minister Limor Livnat convened the Likud's public relations team on Saturday night and expressed concern that national-religious voters would drift to the National Union and National Religious Party to counteract the rise of Shinui. Additional resources were allocated to target voters in Judea and Samaria.

A Labor spokesman said his party is also starting a new campaign which will emphasize the need for two strong parties "in order to preserve democracy." The spokesman said Labor will focus on the need for a strong opposition to offer an alternative to the ruling Likud.

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