Polls See Sharon Losing Likud Vote on Gaza Plan

[Quetzal]

Polls See Sharon Losing Likud Vote on Gaza Plan

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli opinion poll on Thursday found that 51 percent of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s Likud party oppose a Gaza pullout against 39 percent in support, his worst showing yet ahead of a May 2 referendum on the plan.

The survey of Likud by state-run Israel Radio showed six percent of party members were undecided how to vote on Sunday on the "disengagement plan" Sharon has billed as breaking a deadlock in 3-1/2 years of conflict with the Palestinians.

Eager to head off a defeat that would embarrass his government in the face of landmark U.S. endorsement, Sharon has cast the referendum in personal terms. "You cannot be for me but against the plan I am spearheading. Whoever believes in me must vote for the disengagement plan," he told Army Radio. Surveys commissioned by two Israeli newspapers similarly found a growing lead for a "no" vote among the right-wing Likud's 193,000 members.

According to the leading Yedioth Ahronoth daily, 47 percent oppose the plan while 39 percent back it and 14 percent are undecided. Maariv put the voting plans at 45 percent against, 42 in favor and 13 undecided.

more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=1&u=/nm/20040429/wl_nm/mideast_sharon_poll_dc

[regnaD kciN]

1. Sharon has said he'd resign if the plan loses...

...do you think we could hold him to it?

:spank: