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Barak Resigns As Israeli Prime Minister
by Jo Strich
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak dropped a political bombshell Saturday with the announcement he would resign after 17 turbulent months in power and seek a new mandate to confront the seething crisis with the Palestinians.
"Faced with the state of urgency and the need to work to reduce the violence and restart the peace process, I have decided to resign and ask again for the people's confidence," Barak said.
The former army chief, who has been trailing badly in opinion polls, said elections would be called within 60 days to choose a new prime minister, a move that does not mean automatic elections for the Israeli parliament.
Barak's decision would appear to rule out his most dangerous opponent, former right-wing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu from running against him as only members of the Knesset, or parliament, can stand in the prime ministerial election.
Netanyahu's successor as leader of the right-wing opposition Likud party, the hardline former general Ariel Sharon, said he was "surprised" by Barak's decision.
"Barak has probably reached the conclusion that his government was not able to function in this grave security situation and political confusion," he said in a statement.
In a 20-minute televised speech, an emotional and stern-looking Barak said he would formally submit his resignation Sunday to President Moshe Katsav.
The 58-year-old, who only 10 days ago bowed to a hostile parliament and agreed to back early elections, justified his move by saying that some people had doubts about his mandate to lead the country towards peace.
He said there could be elections for both premier and parliament if the 120-member Knesset votes in favor of a dissolution bill on second and third readings.
"This will be a true referendum for peace," he said, adding that his decision was a "personal one" taken after consulting with family and close aides.
"I know what we have to do to make peace because if we fail we risk being forced to drink from rivers of blood and tears," he warned. "The path is difficult, complicated and painful but the only possible way to resolve the conflict is a political one."
In a first reaction Tayeb Abdelrahim, secretary-general of the Palestinian presidency, said: "The resignation will affect the peace process" but described it as an internal Israeli matter.
The White House also said it was an internal matter but emphasized its commitment to the peace process.
"The United States continues to support the peace process and is committed to help the parties," White House spokeswoman Nanda Chitre said, with the caveat that the next steps in the process are "up to them."
Barak's shock announcement came amid a bloody uprising by the Palestinians against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in which almost 320 people, mainly Palestinians, have been killed in 10 weeks.
Barak - who enjoyed a shining 35-year military career but found himself out of his depth in politics - has been without a majority in parliament for five months since three right-wing and religious parties quit his coalition accusing him of making too many concessions to the Palestinians.
Efforts to form a broad government of national unity were rebuffed, notably by Sharon.
"He has proved that he is not only a failure but a coward," Likud MP Limor Livnat told public television. "He has seen the latest polls and is afraid of general elections and of Netanyahu."
In May 1999, Barak won in a landslide over the charismatic but bumptious Netanyahu, 51, who was ousted after three years in power by voters disillusioned with the freeze in the peace process and bitter internal divisions.
But since taking power at the head of a motley coalition of parties of all political persuasions, Barak has lurched from crisis to crisis and seen his hopes dashed of forming a "peace of the brave" with his Arab neighbors.
Sharon, likely to be the main candidate against Barak, is blamed by the Palestinians for violence which was triggered by his provocative visit on September 28th to the al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest place in Islam which stands on Temple Mount, Judaism's most sacred site, in occupied east Jerusalem.
Eli Yishai, leader of the powerful ultra-Orthodox Shas party which has frequently played the role of kingmaker in Israeli coalition governments, said his party would push for a change in the law to allow Netanyahu to run.
"We must make it legally possible for Netanyahu to run in elections. If Ariel Sharon is the only candidate against Barak and Netanyahu cannot run, then we will support Sharon," he said in a television interview.
Observers said Barak appeared to be playing a last desperate card, adding that it would be difficult for him to avoid facing general elections.
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