Ariel Sharon Elected Prime Minister

The Labor Party government led by Ehud Barak lasted only 19 months of its 4-year term. Elections for Prime Minister--but not for members of the present 15th Knesset ("HaKnesset" is the Hebrew name of Israel's parliament)--were called by Barak as his coalition became untenable when coalition partner the Orthodox Sephardic Shas Party withdrew its backing.

Israel's newly-elected prime minister, Ariel Sharon (known here until the election campaign began by his nickname, "Arik") is attempting to form a new government. Last night the Labor Party's Central Committee voted 505-243 to join Sharon's coalition, virtually assuring that Sharon will be successful in his bid to form a "national-unity government."

Approximately 90 of the parliament's 120 members will join Sharon's coalition, leaving only the ten members of Yossi Sarid's Meretz Party, the ten members of Israel's three Arab parties and members of a few other small parties outside the coalition. By contrast, Barak's coalition consisted of only 63 Knesset members.

The new government will be composed of the leftist, socialist-leaning Labor Party, the rightist, hard-line Likud Party, the Shas Party and several smaller parties. The Labor Party, holding 26 of the Knesset seats, and Sharon's Likud Party, with its 19 seats, are Israel's two largest political parties. Shas has 17 members in the Knesset.

Noble Prize recipient Shimon Peres, who as the previous government's Minister of Cooperation and Regional Development, was effectively sidelined by Barak, has been the big winner in the aftermath of the crushing defeat suffered by Barak in the recent elections for Prime Minister. Barak lost to Sharon by an unprecedented 25% margin. Peres will now become Foreign Minister in the new government, as well as interim leader of the Labor Party.

As their plum for joining Sharon's coalition, Labor will be able to choose 8 of the new government's 28 ministers (including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Industry and Trade, and Transportation), and 3 deputy ministers.

With Labor aboard, the hawkish Sharon is assured of stability, that is, a government that will last its full term. Will he also, paradoxically, be the Israeli Prime Minister who succeeds in reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians?