[Israel's Local Elections] Sharon: Likud wins big; Peres: PM jumps gun

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 28 October 2003 | GIL HOFFMAN

[anotherview]

Oct. 28, 2003
Incumbents win major cities; PM: Likud achieved greatness
By GIL HOFFMAN

Only some 41 percent of the 3, 787,760 eligible voters cast their ballots in Tuesday's municipal races by press time, making it the lowest turnout for an election in Israeli history.

The turnout was significantly less than the last elections in November 1998 when 57.4 percent voted.

Interior Ministry officials blamed the low turnout on the lack of close races in large cities, election day not being a work holiday, voters' lack of confidence in the political system, and the cold weather conditions.

Turnout was largest in large cities with incumbent mayors who were expected to win easily like Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon. The highest turnouts were in Arab towns like Abu Gosh with 93 percent and Deer Hana with 91 percent.

Central Elections Committee Chairwoman Supreme Court Justice Dalia Dorner said that in her post-election report, she may recommend having future local elections on the same day as Knesset elections in order to boost turnout.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quick to declare victory, releasing a statement shortly after exit polls with preliminary results were broadcast on Channel 2 at 10 pm.

"The Likud maintained its power convincingly and achieved great achievements," Sharon said. "The Likud continues to be the leading political movement at every level - in the government, the Knesset, and in local authorities."

Labor Party leaders called Sharon's victory declaration ridiculous and accused the Likud of jumping the gun. They said no conclusions could be drawn when barely any results were in.

"Sharon is lying and I have no respect for a prime minister who lies," Labor municipal campaign chairman MK Eitan Cabel. "From my perspective, in many places we won big. The results satisfy me, and I get the impression this is going to be my night."

Labor leader Shimon Peres said the Likud lost some key races and expressed confidence that Labor would emerge the winner.

According to early exit polls, incumbents in the major cities were re-elected, with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai (Labor) keeping his seat.

According to the polls, the Likud retained its power in Ashdod, Kiryat Shmona, Hadera and Kiryat Yam.

The Labor Party held onto Tel Aviv, Be'er Sheva, Nazareth Illit, Holon and Ridshon Letzion.

If a mayoral candidate does not win more than 40 percent of the vote than a runoff election will be held between the two top candidates.

In Bat Yam, independent candidate Shlomo Lichiani won, defeating both the Likud and Labor candidates. Herzliya Mayor Yael German (Meretz) and Be`er Sheva Mayor Yaakov Terner (Labor) defeated their Likud opponents and retained their seats in local elections.

Director General of the Likud Arik Brami said: "We licked them. I almost feel sorry for them."

Likud Knesset faction leader Gideon Sa'ar said that "by and large" the Likud had remained "the central force in municipalities." "We won a number of key cities," he noted. Sa'ar downplayed several key losses in cautious optimism saying that "it appears that there will be a number of second-round elections and that we will win in them."

The head of the Knesset defense and foreign affairs committee Yuval Steinitz pronounced the results as "great" and said that the results showed the "maturity of the Israeli voter despite the economic situation to come out an vote". He also stated that the results "went against the grain of what the media predicted. This will not be the revolution that all the pundits prophesied."

Steinitz also said that the Likud "remains the most powerful force in municipalities and with a wide margin."

David Rudge, Tovah Lazaroff and Matt Gutman contributed to the report.

[bluelowrider57]

Director General of the Likud Arik Brami said: "We licked them. I almost feel sorry for them."

LOL

[goldstategop]

The Labor Party is on the ropes. The public didn't buy the Geneva Initiative and despite the economy, voted for the adults. What will Israel's Oslo Left think of next? They better come up with something original, if they can.