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DATE=5/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249483
TITLE=ISRAEL POL (L-2ND UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN ISRAEL, LABOR PARTY LEADER EHUD BARAK APPEARS HEADED 
FOR A DECISIVE ELECTION VICTORY OVER INCUMBENT PRIME MINISTER 
BENJAMIN NETNAYAHU.  MR. NETANYAHU HAS CONCEDED DEFEAT AND SAYS 
HE WILL STEP DOWN AS HEAD OF THE RIGHT-WING LIKUD PARTY.  V-O-A'S
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. 
TEXT:  MR. BARAK HAD LED IN THE FINAL PRE-ELECTION OPINION POLLS,
BUT PROJECTIONS BY ISRAEL'S TWO TELEVISION NETWORKS, BASED ON 
EXIT INTERVIEWS WITH VOTERS, INDICATE AN EVEN BIGGER VICTORY 
MARGIN FOR THE LABOR PARTY LEADER.
ISRAEL'S CHANNEL-ONE STATE TELEVISION PROJECTED MR. BARAK WINNING
58-POINT-FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE TWO-MAN RACE, WHILE THE 
PRIVATE CHANNEL-TWO SAID HE WOULD WIN WITH 57 PERCENT.
THOUGH HE HAD TALKED OF AN UPSET VICTORY, MR. NETANYAHU CONCEDED 
DEFEAT WITHIN A HALF HOUR OF THE POLLS' CLOSE.  HE SHOCKED HIS 
SUPPORTERS IN TEL AVIV BY ALSO ANNOUNCING HIS RESIGNATION AS 
LEADER OF THE LIKUD PARTY:
    /// NETANYAHU ACT IN HEBREW, FADING TO CORRESPONDENT ///
         MR. NETANYAHU SAID HE HAD A LOT TO GIVE TO ISRAEL, BUT 
         THAT IT WAS TIME TO TAKE A BREAK WITH HIS FAMILY AND TO 
         RECONSIDER HIS FUTURE IN POLITICS.
MR. NETANYAHU WILL STAY ON AS PRIME MINISTER IN A CARETAKER 
CAPACITY, UNTIL MR. BARAK CAN FORM HIS NEW GOVERNMENT.  THE LABOR
PARTY LEADER WILL HAVE 45 DAYS TO DO SO, BUT IT DOES  NOT  APPEAR
HE WILL HAVE MUCH DIFFICULTY IN ASSEMBLING A LEFT-CENTER 
COALITION, GIVEN PROJECTIONS ON THE MAKEUP OF THE NEXT KNESSET.
THE CHANNEL-ONE EXIT POLL SAID LABOR WOULD REMAIN THE BIGGEST 
SINGLE PARTY, WITH 33 SEATS, WHILE THE LIKUD WOULD SLUMP TO JUST 
18 SEATS, ITS POOREST SHOWING SINCE 1961.
ISRAELI POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY MR. NETANYAHU'S DECISION TO QUIT 
THE PARTY LEADERSHIP IS  NOT  SURPRISING IN THAT REGARD, SINCE 
WITH LIKUD FARING SO BADLY, HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUSTED 
FROM THE JOB.
TURNOUT IN THE ELECTION IS EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN ABOUT 80 PERCENT
OF THE ISRAELI ELECTORATE -- VOTERS ENERGIZED BY A BITTER 
CAMPAIGN THAT FOSCUSED MORE ON PERSONALITIES AND NAME-CALLING 
THAN POLITICAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE PEACE PROCESS WITH THE 
PALESTINIANS.
MR. BARAK HAS SAID HE WANTS TO RESTORE TRUST AND MOMENTUM TO THE 
PEACE PROCESS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY CAME TO A HALT LATE LAST YEAR 
WHEN MR. NETANYAHU'S RIGHT-WING COALITION FELL APART OVER TROOP 
PULLBACKS IN THE WEST BANK UNDER THE U-S BROKERED WYE RIVER 
AGREEMENT.   (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/WTW
17-May-99 4:49 PM EDT (2049 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.