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Victorious Sharon turns to coalition buildingLabor Party leader vows not to join unity government
TEL AVIV, Israel (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, riding the crest of a decisive election victory, set about Wednesday to construct a coalition government that will follow his policies -- tougher than the dovish views of the vanquished Labor Party but less hawkish than Israel's religious right. With almost all votes counted, Sharon's Likud party appears to have increased its presence in the 120-member parliament to 37 seats, up from 19. The prime minister can form a stable coalition government with at least 61 seats needed to govern in the Knesset. Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna conceded defeat, but he repeated his vow that his party would not join a unity government. Labor won 19 seats, down from the 25 seats it held in the previous Knesset. Addressing the Likud faithful in a nationally televised broadcast Tuesday, Sharon said, "This is not a time for celebration. It is a time to close ranks, to stand side by side to bring a victory over terrorism." Sharon also referred to recent scandals over a loan his family obtained to pay back $1.5 million in illegal campaign contributions. "I utterly forgive what has been said about me because what we share is much bigger than what divides us," he said. An investigation into that loan is continuing. In a passionate speech, Mitza said Labor will remain in the opposition. "We will be there as a reminder that there is an alternative, that there is another way," Mitzna said. "It is no disgrace to be in the opposition, and I promise that our time there will be short." Mitzna had called for renewed negotiations with Palestinians, while Sharon has vowed not to talk until terror attacks against Israelis have stopped. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday that Palestinians are ready for peace negotiations with the newly elected Israeli government. "We are ready to work directly and resume negotiations immediately with the new Israeli government in order to secure security and peace for both people," he told Israeli television. Asked about the result of Tuesday's elections, Arafat responded, "We respect the democratic choice of the people of Israel." "We hope the new Israeli government will respond to our call for a cease-fire and to resume negotiations" under the supervision of the Middle East Quartet, composed of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia. Sharon has said he wants to cooperate with the United States on a road map for a peace plan with Palestinians -- with conditions. He has insisted that he will not negotiate with and would not resume talks until Palestinian violence against Israelis stops. During his victory speech, Sharon called for all Israel's political parties to join him, saying, "Israel must not be left split apart internally, eaten up by blind hatred -- not at a time of war, not at a time of crisis, not now." Mitzna called on the secular Shinu, or Change Party, not to participate in a right-wing coalition but to join Labor in opposition to Sharon. The Shinui Party won 15 seats, poll figures showed, giving it a new, prominent role in Israeli politics. The party is opposed to special privileges given to Orthodox Jews. Shinui party leader Tommy Lapid said he would work with Sharon to form a unity government but added that he will not join a government that includes ultra-Orthodox parties. He also said Labor's refusal to join with Sharon is "irresponsible" and called on the party to join a unity government. Shift away from the leftThe Israeli vote represented a significant shift away from the left and center parties toward the right wing after two years of terror attacks during the current Palestinian Intifada, or uprising. According to projections by Israel's Channel One television, the right-wing parties -- including the ultra-Orthodox -- will end up controlling 70 Knesset seats. The left would have 33 seats, and the center parties would end up with 17. Analysts said the predominance of the right wing should make it easier for Sharon to form a stable coalition government. However, Sharon has been at odds with the religious parties, which have demanded he adopt tougher policies against the Palestinians. A spokesman for Sharon said Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak called Sharon to congratulate him on his victory. The two leaders tentatively agreed to meet after Sharon forms a new government, the prime minister's office said. (Full story) Under Israel's parliamentary electoral system, Israel's president will ask the leaders of the party winning the most seats to form a government. When Sharon gets the request, he will have 28 days -- which may be extended by 14 days if he needs them -- to form a government.
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