January 27, 2003

ELECTIONS IN BRIEF

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Magen, Ba-Gad drop out

David Magen's Center Party and Rabbi Ba-Gad's Moreshet Avot dropped out of the Knesset race on Sunday at the urging of the Likud and National Religious Party. Magen, the last remnant of the Center Party established for the l999 elections, was asked by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to drop his candidacy. Magen agreed and endorsed Sharon. He used his broadcast time mostly to attack Shinui and Labor, while endorsing Sharon. Likud campaign chief Ehud Olmert said that several thousand lost votes on the Right could have an impact on the outcome of the election.

Herut, headed by Michel Kleiner, is staying in the race. Ba-Gad's list won only 1,100 votes in the 1999 election, whereas the Center Party won 5 percent of the vote, or six seats.

By Nina Gilbert

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Kleiner stopped from visiting Umm el-Fahm

Herut leader Michael Kleiner and Knesset candidate Baruch Marzel were halted by a police roadblock in Wadi Ara while trying to reach Umm el-Fahm to make a tour of the city. Meretz activists also came to the site and protested against Herut, calling it a "racist party."

Police said the visit by the group of more than 30 Herut activists was likely to have caused public unrest.

Kleiner planned the visit to examine what he said was illegal construction in the city. After he was blocked from entering, he protested that the city is becoming an autonomous area which police are "afraid to enter."

By Nina Gilbert

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Dan bus service to change for Election Day

The Dan bus company announced that though most of its bus lines will operate on Tuesday, Election Day, the schedules of many of them will be slightly altered. Some lines will not run at all and the company recommends calling for information regarding alternate routes.

Dan also announced that it will honor vouchers for public transportation issued by the post office to citizens who live more than 20 km. from the place they are registered to vote.

By Itim

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Survey: Half of us don't need day off to vote

A survey carried out by the research institute Meida Shivuki indicates that about half the voting public does not believe that a day off is necessary on Election Day. Fifty percent thought the day off is not justified, while 45% said it is.

The survey showed that 72% of the respondents plan to vote. Of these, 76% say they would vote regardless of having to work that day and an additional 14% think they would do so. Only 6% said they would not or think they would not vote if they had to work on Election Day.

By Itim

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Agency videoconferences to explain election

The Jewish Agency will hold two Internet videoconferences, at www.jacontact.org, to explain the election to Diaspora Jews.

The first, set for Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., will feature Jerusalem Report editor David Horowitz, Eran Lerman, director of the Israel-Middle East office of the American Jewish Committee, and educator David Mendelson. The second, on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., will feature Lerman, Mendelson, and PR man Neil Lazarus.

By The Jerusalem Post Staff

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Women protest in Jerusalem

Several dozen women identified with the far-left held a demonstration against government policy at Jerusalem's Pat junction on Sunday night, police said. From time to time, the protesters tried to block evening rush-hour traffic, but were prevented from doing so by police. One of the demonstrators was detained for questioning.

By Etgar Lefkovitz

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