Bibi ready for Likud battle
Following scathing attack by Prime Minister Sharon Monday, Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu to initiate drive for Likud leadership Tuesday. Bibi to tell Likud members Sharon unfit to lead ruling party, country
In a Tel Aviv press conference, Netanyahu is expected to tell Likud members Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is unfit to lead neither the ruling party nor the country. Bibi is also set to slam the PM for advancing policies that put Israel at risk.
Netanyahu is expected to arrive at the press conference accompanied by Knesset members, including many Likud "rebels."
On the diplomatic and security front, Bibi will likely attack Sharon over the unilateral Gaza Strip withdrawal and other concessions to the Palestinians, which Netanyahu said before will only boost terrorism.
However, Netanyahu's close associates preferred to build up the drama and refused to inform journalists of Bibi's exact speech. According to a source in Netanyahu's office, Bibi will finalize his message Monday night.
"Until the press conference we have no intention of sharing the words with anyone," he said.
Netanyahu himself, who on Sunday evening took part in a rally in support of Likud Central Committee Member Uzi Cohen, chose to remain silent and refused to speak with reporters at the event. Netanyahu, who delivered a speech at the rally, was warmly received by the audience, which was cheering and yelling out "Bibi, Bibi."
Bibi concerned about Landau
At this time, Netanyahu has several reasons to smile. For one thing, polls among Likud members are in his favor, while the movement's court decided Monday to hold a meeting of the Likud Central Committee next month, in effect signaling the bringing forward of the primaries.
Meanwhile, many Likud members still very much adore Netanyahu and what he represents, giving him an edge over the much maligned Sharon.
However, Bibi is also faced with several concerns, one of them being in the form of fellow Likud Knesset Member Uzi Landau, who objected to the disengagement plan from the very beginning and enjoys growing popularity in Likud polls.
Landau announced he was running for the Likud leadership about two weeks ago, and Netanyahu is concerned that the "dark horse" candidate may even beat him out and move on to a second round against PM Sharon.
Likud sources told Ynet Monday evening that Netanyahu's associates have started to exert massive pressure on Landau in a bid to convince him to withdraw his candidacy.
However, this may be a risky move, as a Landau withdrawal could serve to assure Netanyahu's victory at this early stage, prompting Sharon to split the Likud soon and form his own party.
Under this kind of scenario, Sharon would strive to advance general elections in a bid to take advantage of his current popularity among the general public in the wake of the disengagement plan.
Sharon prepares for fight
Meanwhile, Sharon's close associates said Sunday they are preparing to fight the decision to hold a meeting of the Likud Central Committee, arguing that the party's court does not have the authority to order the move.
"The (Likud) constitution rules that elections for the movement's leadership will be held six months before general elections are held," one source said.
Sharon's advisors will present the prime minister with an action plan Tuesday aimed at annulling the proposal to bring the primaries forward. According to sources close to the PM, "neither the ministers nor Knesset members really want to bring the elections forward."
The sources said they will attempt to forge a coalition made up of senior Likud ministers in a bid to fight off the demand for early primaries.
"We believe that with such coalition we'll be able to annul this move," one source said.
Starting Tuesday morning, Sharon's associates will begin massively recruiting Likud Central Committee members to their cause, in an effort to vote down the proposal to hold early primaries.
"If about 80 percent of Central Committee members show up for the vote, there is no reason we cannot overcome this successfully," a close Sharon associate said.
