Military

DATE=1/28/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL ELECTIONS ALTERNATE (L-O)

NUMBER=2-298912

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=TEL AVIV

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///// MAY BE USED AS ALTERNATE TO ISRAEL-ELECTION CR'S FILED BY ROSS DUNN /////

INTRO: Israeli voters are going to the polls to elect a new parliament, which will decide the make-up of the new government. Predictions are that incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his rightwing Likud Party are headed for victory, but will face the task of forming a coalition government. V-O-A's Sonja Pace visited a polling station in Tel Aviv.

TEXT: For weeks, opinion polls have predicted a substantial win for Mr. Sharon and his Likud Party, and a crushing defeat for his main rival, Amram Mitzna of the Labor Party.

The campaign focused more on opinion poll standings and political scandals, with much less debate on the issues of concern to Israeli voters: the continuing Israeli-Palestinian violence, the lack of security, and the poor Israeli economy.

One thing the polls also show is a lack of voter enthusiasm, which was evident in the slow pace of early balloting. Israelis have told pollsters they think they know who will win the election, and they do not think any party or leader will be able to make much progress toward peace.

As a result, the Election Commission estimates that only about 36-percent of Israel's four-point-seven-million registered voters cast their ballots in the first half of the day -- a historic low for Israeli elections.

One young voter at a busy shopping mall in central Tel Aviv, said he cast his ballot for Ariel Sharon.

/// YOUNG MAN ACT ///

Sharon has more experience, and I believe in him more than I believe in Mitzna. I do not say that Sharon is better, but I believe he can do more than Mitzna can do.

/// END ACT ///

Not far away, in northern Tel Aviv, the stream of voters heading into the polling station at the Bavli elementary school was small, but steady.

Yoram Beiran came with his wife and baby. He voted, but expressed little enthusiasm.

/// BEIRAN ACT ///

I do not know. I did not feel strong (about) any party actually. And more closer to Mitzna.

/// END ACT ///

Other voters were more enthusiastic. University teacher Varda Fish says she voted for Amram Mitzna, even though she knows he has little chance of winning.

/// FISH ACT ///

I think peace talks must resume as soon as possible, regardless of anything else. And Mitzna promised to go ahead with peace negotiations and Sharon did not. And Sharon I do not trust and he did not prove himself, and the country is in bad shape and I blame Sharon and his corrupt party for that.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Mitzna's promise to resume immediate negotiations with the Palestinians and his readiness to give up most of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in exchange for peace may have great appeal to many Israelis who say they want peace and support a Palestinian state.

But analysts say Mr. Mitzna is a newcomer on the national political scene and simply did not have enough time to make his case to a broader audience.

When the polls close, Likud is expected to come out the winner, but is not expected to win the outright 61-seat parliamentary majority. So, Mr. Sharon will be asked to form a coalition government. Some analysts predict that could take weeks and involve many compromises on key issues. (SIGNED)

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