CNN - Israeli election draws mixed reactions

Israeli election draws mixed reactions

May 30, 1996
Web posted at: 4:50 p.m. EDT (2050 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With the vote count for Israeli prime minister locked in a dead heat, reactions on the possible outcome varied throughout Israel and the world Thursday as to what the election means for the Middle East peace process.

With 99.9 percent of precincts reporting, right-wing Likud challenger Benjamin Netanyahu was leading Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres by about 15,000 votes. Final results were not expected until at least Friday.

Neither candidate commented Thursday on the early results. A Netanyahu spokesman, however, issued a statement saying the Likud Party leader is deeply committed to peace with Israel's Arab neighbors, including Palestinians.

But a Likud Party member, Uzi Landau, adamantly said his party would never accept the concept of Middle East countries as "peace lovers."

"We'll have to put much more emphasis on our security," Landau said. "If we really want peace: no Palestinian state here."

The early results also prompted various celebrations throughout the Jewish state. Likud supporters danced in the streets Thursday; (235K QuickTime movie) religious groups enjoying their big gains in the parliamentary race shouted with joy. (400K QuickTime movie) Wednesday night, Peres supporters were jubilant as well. (300K QuickTime movie)

By Thursday, the atmosphere among Labor Party representatives watching the vote count at the Central Election Commission was more tense. They demanded spot checks of voters' lists to make sure they matched the number of ballots cast.

Meanwhile, Leah Rabin, the widow of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, said a Netanyahu victory frightened her.

"I feel like packing my bags, and flying as quickly as possible away from here," she said.

Palestinian Council Member Hanan Ashwari said the peace process "is not dead" if Netanyahu wins. It just becomes more difficult, she said. (185K AIFF or WAV sound)

She said it is important to remember that campaign rhetoric and policy-making are quite different -- meaning Netanyahu may change his stance if elected.

And on the streets of Israel, the reaction was just as mixed.

"Now, we know that people don't want any peace in this country because, if they did, they would have voted for Peres," one Israeli woman said.

"About my future, I feel good," an Israeli man said, happy that Netanyahu fared well. "Security over Israel will be great now."

Another man simply said he didn't know what to make of the outcome. (99K AIFF or WAV sound)

Elsewhere, President Clinton said the U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East peace process would not change -- no matter who is elected.

"Our policy will remain the same," Clinton said, emphasizing that both candidates had expressed ways to continue the peace process. (215K AIFF or WAV sound)

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was briefed throughout Wednesday on the election returns. His officials said Netanyahu could not reverse what had already been achieved in the peace process.

France said a Netanyahu victory would neither halt the Middle East peace process nor damage ties between Jerusalem and Paris.

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