Polls predict Labour win

Press, 24 July 1984, Page 10

Polls predict Labour win

NZPA-Reuter Tel Aviv Israeli voters are choosing either the governing Likud's Yitzhak Shamir or the Opposition Labour Party’s Shimon Peres as Prime Minister today, but neither is expected to be able to form a Government without help from smaller parties. Pre-election opinion polls said that Labour would win more seats than Likud in the Parliament, but they suggested that either party might be able to form a coalition with four or five small parties. Mr Shamir, whose Right-

wing Government was toppled in March when a \ coalition partner rejected austerity measures, called during the campaign for a Likud-Labour national unity coalition to solve Israel’s economic crisis. Mr Peres rejected the offer as a campaign ploy and said that he sought a clear mandate for a strong Labour-led Government. Recent polls have shown Labour leading Likud by about 10 per cent A poll in the “Jerusalem Post’ f yesterday had Labour leading by 48 seats in Parliament to 41, while two

other polls put Labour ahead by six seats. Whether Labour or Likud comes out ahead in today’s vote, forming a coalition could take several weeks, or even months, of bargaining with as many as 15 of the 26 parties. Israeli commentators say that if Likud trails Labour by only a few seats it may have a better chance of forming a Government with small Right-wing parties. The election campaign centred on Likud’s handling of the economy, which suffers 400 per cent inflation, a foreign debt of more

than SUS2O billion, and a huge trade deficit. The next Government is expected to enact urgent economic measures, and fears of widespread price increases sent Israelis on pre-election shopping sprees. Labour also attacked Likud's handling of the Lebanon war and its policy of widespread Jewish settlement on the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. Labour leaders have promised a swift withdrawal from Lebanon and a settlement freeze if victorious.