The opinions expressed are of those quoted. We cite them
for their interest, not necessarily because we agree with
them.
Precedent (1)
"What Barak did to Shimon Peres before he was chosen to
replace him as head of the Labor party, others will do to
Barak, and he will have to learn the hard way what it's like
to be on the less successful side of the political map." --
Senior Labor party officials telling the media about their
plans for the day after Barak's big election defeat
Precedent (2)
"After Barak's defeat, he should head home for a cooling-off
period. The public might forget his failures, his lack of a
basic political understanding and his inadequate
interpersonal relations, and might give him another chance
in another two-and-a-half years." -- Premature consolation
by senior Labor party officials
Outside Support (1)
"Anyone who calls for an election boycott or casting a blank
vote is essentially voting for Sharon, who is a warmonger." -
- The great peacemonger, leader of the Democratic Front for
the Liberation of Palestine, Na'if Hawatme, calling on
Israeli Arabs to participate in the elections and support
Barak
Outside Support (2)
"Actually I would vote for Sharon. I am certain that if he
is elected, the intifadah will die down and peace will be
achieved. The Arabs know what Sharon is all about, both the
good and the bad, and we would prefer an Israeli prime
minister who looks you in the eye and says what he intends
to do, rather than Barak, who is cast as a peace-seeker, but
does not carry out agreements." -- Marwan Dorin, member of
the Jordanian Parliament and a member of the Israel-Jordan
Peace Team, calling on Israeli Arabs to support Sharon
Secular Revolution
"This time I won't vote for Barak because every time I leave
the house I have to say Tefillas Haderech. I have
never done so before because I am not a religious man. So
how could I vote for Barak again?" -- Yosi Lugassi, Beit
She'an store owner, telling Ha'aretz how he
formulated his political stance after his wife began calling
him every fifteen minutes to check whether he was still
alive
Imaging
"Ariel Sharon has the image of a real monster, a creature
that ravages everything. Sometimes this can be helpful,
especially nowadays when there is a decline in Israel's
deterrent capability." -- Ra'anan Gissin, Sharon's foreign
media advisor, in a slip-of-the-tongue to the New York
Times
Belief System
"The state's continued existence is my number-one priority.
If there is no State of Israel, there is nothing: no
Zionism, no settlements and no talmud Torah." --
Brigadier-General Effi Fine (Res.), outlining his national-
religious worldview in an interview with Yediot
Achronot.
Historical knowledge
"In military jargon the Kalkiliya area is called Ephraim
after the name of the army division in charge of the
region." -- Ha'aretz explaining the connection between
the name Ephraim and this region of the country
