The split in Likud is ideological. I don't see it likely that the two conflicting ideologies will be able to remain together in the long term. When Prime Minister Begin accepted the idea of a Palestinian state (or at least self determination) in the territories he forever destroyed the idea of a "Greater Israel". Some in Likud still fail to realize that.
Most oustide of Israel also don't seem to remember that Likud was originally a coalition of center-right and rightist parties, not a unified movement. Those divisions have never fully disappeared.
As I said before, Binyamin Netanyahu's personal ambition and arrogance are what is driving this and he is trying to use this ideological split to his advantage. The great irony in this is that he can't win but likely now can only bring everyone down with him.
Prime Minister Sharon remains very popular. He forms a new party and that new party may well win the election. That, or Labor and Shinui defeat a divided Likud.
This is ridiculous. Nethanyahu is ambitious but Sharon is some kind of saint? Give me a break. Sharon who is widely believed to have done the Gaza withdrawal to deflect a likely indictment. Sharon whose cronies have already planned a casino in Gaza. Sharon whose punk colleagues bragged about breaking the bones of Jews because they opposed his policies. Yeah he is wonderful.
Begin never accepted a Palestinian state. His concept was autonomy for the Arabs in the territories, running their own affairs on the Municipal levels. He would never have done the Gaza punk out.
bump with no comment