Sharon's party defeat may actually be a victory among public

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's defeat in a Likud party vote rejecting a Palestinian state first appeared to be a humiliating challenge to his leadership of the party. But many now view it as a boost -- turning Sharon into a voice of moderation and shoring up his popularity with mainstream Israelis.

"Ariel Sharon made his choice last night. He opted for the world central committee over the Likud Central Committee, and the viewers at home over the party activists in the hall," the Yediot Ahronot daily said Monday.

Sharon's popularity has soared since he began incursions into Palestinian-controlled territories in the West Bank to root out militants.

A poll released April 12 showed 59 percent of Israelis were satisfied with his performance, a sharp increase from his earlier approval ratings.

At the same time, polls show Israelis also support peace proposals that might break the deadlock with the Palestinians -- with one survey showing a majority for the recent Saudi peace initiative, even though the question stated it would mean practically a return to Israel's pre-1967 borders.

But within his party, Sharon faces a serious challenge from the right, led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hopes to return to power in the next election, slated for 2003.

Though Likud has long opposed creation of a Palestinian state, Sharon has publicly accepted the idea and he hoped to keep the issue off the agenda at Sunday night's meeting.

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