ABU DHABI, Jan 31 (IslamOnline) - Computer hackers removed the website of extremist Israeli Likud party leader Ariel Sharon, the current frontrunner in Israel's prime ministerial elections, and replaced it with pro-Islamic slogans praising the Palestinians and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah.
The hackers rendered the site completely inaccessible and placed anti-Sharon messages reminding visitors of his "bloody and brutal" crimes against Palestinians, including the massacres at Sabra and Shatila in 1982, which cost the lives of hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
The attack included placing pictures and slogans praising Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance movement, who are heroes in the eyes of some Palestinians.
Known for his provocative gestures towards Arabs, Sharon paid an inflammatory visit on September 28th to al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, prompting Palestinian demonstrations.
Sharon retained a commanding lead Wednesday over caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak in the race for prime minister six days before the election, with reports that Barak is facing mounting pressure to stand down in favor of Nobel peace laureate Shimon Peres as the candidate from the Labor party.
Barak, his political fortunes in tatters because of a deadly wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has engulfed the region for four months, has said he may consider meeting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a last ditch bid for progress on the peace front that could boost his election prospects.
A survey published by the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot found that 50% of Israelis would vote for Likud leader Sharon, against 34% for Barak.
Another poll in the English language Jerusalem Post gave Sharon 49% and Barak 27%.
