Israel's Sharon to Call Early Elections

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Israel's Sharon to Call Early Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Israel's president Tuesday he was going to call early elections after failing so far to form a narrow right-wing coalition, Israeli television reports said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Israel's president Tuesday he was going to call early elections after failing so far to form a narrow right-wing coalition, Israeli television reports said.

Israel Channel Two's correspondent said it was "certain" Sharon was going to call elections. "We know he told the president he is going to elections," probably on February 4.

Sharon's office said he had scheduled a news conference for 0830 GMT following an 0800 GMT news conference called by President Moshe Katzav.

Israel was plunged into political crisis last week when the center-left Labor Party bolted Sharon's "national unity" government in a dispute over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied lands where Palestinians want to establish their state.

Earlier a political source said Sharon told Katzav "it looks like we are going to have to have elections." Israel Radio reported Sharon said he did not see any other way out but through elections.

The Israeli parliament Monday voted down three no-confidence motions in the prime minister's shrunken coalition.

Surviving the vote meant Sharon could press ahead with efforts to enlist ultra-nationalist parties into the right-wing government he hoped to form in the wake of the collapse. But he has so far failed to restore his parliamentary majority.

Source: Agencies

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