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01/29/2003 Archived Entry: "Israel re-elects Ariel Sharon"

SOME GOOD NEWS: That got overshadowed by last night's SOTU. Israeli voters yesterday re-elected Ariel Sharon.

"Sharon's Likud doubled its strength, from 19 to 37 seats in the 120-member parliament. Likud's political rival, the centre-left Labour, posted its worst-ever showing, dropping from 26 to 19 seats.

"Sharon profited from the Israeli electorate's shift to the right in response to 28 months of fighting with the Palestinians. Many Israelis are angry at the Palestinians, believing they lied about wanting peace and responded to a reasonable offer with violence. Voters blamed Labour, which led the failed peace negotiations, for the country's troubles."