Barak fighting for political life

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak turned his attention away from the conflict with Palestinians yesterday to stave off a political offensive by right-wing foes trying to engineer his downfall.

As Barak fought for his political life, telephoning parliamentarians to lobby for their support, fresh violence defied hopes that renewed meetings between top Israeli and Palestinian security officials were containing the unrest.

At least 281 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed in a 2-month-old uprising for independence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Despite the gunfire and two roadside bombs that blew up as Israeli vehicles drove along West Bank and Gaza roads, there were no reports of deaths from fighting yesterday.

The Opposition Likud party said it had the numbers to pass an early election bill on its first reading today, and begin the process similar to what caused the collapse of the Government of Barak's predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, in 1999.

Even if the bill wins approval, it must still pass two more readings. But Israeli political analysts say that if Barak fails to block today's vote, it would put his Government on a slippery slope to dissolution.

Barak called for a united Israeli front in the face of the Palestinian revolt and repeated calls for the formation of a governing coalition with the right-wing Likud, which accuses him of failing to take tough measures to stamp out the violence.

Israeli commentators say such a government would probably be a kiss of death to chances of reviving peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Arafat's Fatah movement called for Palestinians to step up what it called the "popular protest" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Some Palestinians believe that inflamed religious feelings during Ramadan could intensify the intifada, or uprising.

In a move that might calm tempers slightly, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh agreed to ease sanctions against Palestinians for Ramadan.

His spokesman, Hillel Sertouk, said Israel would allow Palestinian agricultural exports such as flowers and vegetables to leave Palestinian areas for markets in Israel or abroad. He said the Karni Crossing connecting Israel with Gaza would be open for longer hours to ensure that a backlog of shipments, including gas and petrol deliveries, would enter the Gaza Strip.

But an Israeli stranglehold on the West Bank and Gaza, preventing tens of thousands of Palestinians from working in Israel and from moving between West Bank towns, would continue. Palestinians say the closure has caused enormous economic hardship.

- REUTERS

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