Israelis opted for Hawkish veteran politician and former general Ariel Sharon, who has refused to cede the Palestinians more territory or a foothold in Jerusalem. Barak had offered Palestinians a state encompassing most of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, together with a share of the contested city.
Conceding the election had gone to Sharon, Barak told supporters: “The voters have spoken, and I respect their democratic decision.” Speaking in a choked voice, Barak defended his efforts since coming to office 18 months ago to negotiate a final peace settlement. A crowd of several hundred supporters shouted: “Thank you, Ehud!”
“The state of Israel has entered a new path … the path of security and true peace,” said Ariel Sharon to cheering, chanting supporters at his campaign headquarters. He called on Palestinians to abandon “the way of violence” and urged his vanquished opponent, Barak, to join forces with him in a broad-based national government.
Sharon, 72, also said U.S. President George W. Bush had called to congratulate him and to urge close cooperation. Turning to the Palestinians, Sharon urged them to “abandon the path of violence” and settle their disputes with Israel peacefully. The 72-year-old Sharon is regarded by admirers as a war hero and by his detractors as a reckless military adventurist.
Sharon said a peace agreement “requires difficult compromises from both sides,” but did not say what concessions he was willing to make. He also suggested that Jerusalem would be off-limits in future negotiations. He said Jerusalem would remain Israel’s eternal capital, and that his government would concentrate on strengthening the city.
The Palestinians want the traditionally Arab East Jerusalem as a capital for a future Palestinian state. Barak had agreed to hand at least some of the Arab neighborhoods over to Palestinian control, but the deal was rejected by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Barak’s government fell apart over his even making the offer. Several weeks later, a visit by Sharon to a Jerusalem site holy to both Muslims and Jews sparked Palestinian riots, the beginning of months of violence that became known as the “Al-Aqsa intifada.”
Barak announced Tuesday night that he would step down as Labor Party leader, leaving Sharon without a negotiating partner in the rival political camp. The move did open the way for a “national unity government,” but it could take weeks or months for Labor to choose a new leader to set the party’s course.
Political analysts predicted it would be just as difficult for Sharon to form a stable government as it has been for Barak — and that his term in office could be even shorter.
