Opposition candidate Moshe Katsav in upset win for Israeli president
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Knesset considers no-confidence vote after defeating Barak ally
JERUSALEM -- Opposition Israeli lawmaker Moshe Katsav unexpectedly defeated former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, an ally of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, on Monday as the Knesset voted for a new president.
When Katsav, of the Likud party, failed in the first round to win the required 61 votes to give him the largely ceremonial job, the Knesset turned to a second round of voting while another crucial vote waited in the wings -- a no-confidence motion regarding Barak's minority government.
Peres, who had been expected to win easily, took 57 votes to Katsav's 60 in the first round with three legislators abstaining. In the second round, all three abstentions went to Katsav.
The vote -- to replace Ezer Weizman, who resigned as president this month amid allegations of fraud and breach of trust -- was a blow to Barak, already reeling after several defections turned his ruling coalition into a minority government ahead of the failed Camp David summit.
Following the presidential vote, the Knesset was to take up debate over the no-confidence motion. Angered by concessions Barak seemed ready to make last week in the peace summit with Palestinians, some conservative lawmakers want to force Barak's government to face early elections.
The embattled leader, however, appeared poised to survive the motion
after Foreign Minister David Levy announced he would vote in support of
the government Monday. Levy, who wants the prime minister to try to assemble
a government of national unity, said he would wait until Wednesday to decide
whether to leave Barak's cabinet.
Levy opposes peace concessions
Barak's government lost its majority in parliament in the days leading up to this month's Mideast summit at Camp David when three religious parties left his coalition in protest of his participation in the talks.But hours before leaving for Camp David on July 10, Barak survived a no-confidence motion when Knesset opponents could not rally enough votes to topple his administration.
Levy, who opposed concessions such as sharing control of parts of Jerusalem with the Palestinians, first indicated he was thinking of resigning last week. Analysts speculated that if he made his move prior to Monday's votes, he could propel the government into collapse.
But following a meeting Sunday with Barak, Levy said in a written statement, "If no effort is made to establish a unity government by this Wednesday, I will resign from the government....This announcement has been delivered to the prime minister."
The foreign minister said he was pushing for national unity because Camp David proposals to reach a peace with the Palestinians had plunged Israel into crisis. He said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had already begun touring Arab countries to shore up Arab solidarity.
Israel should show its own resolve, Levy said.
'All options are open'
Barak has not ruled out a unity government, and on Sunday evening he indicated he was contemplating an approach to Likud, comparing such a proposal to his efforts with the Palestinians."I must make peace or at least an interim agreement with opponents ... in order to go forward," he said.
"All options are open," Barak's office said.
But Barak reportedly has great reservations about asking the Likud into government, believing that would cripple his efforts to close a peace deal with the Palestinians within months. Although the Camp David talks failed, the sides resumed talks on Sunday.
Likud leader Ariel Sharon on Sunday repeated his steadfast opposition to joining Barak's government, calling for early elections.
Barak will likely win a three-month reprieve to pursue peace moves if he survives Monday's votes. A vote of no confidence cannot take place during the three months that parliament is in recess. That gives Barak until October 29 to secure his government's future.
Also, Levy said he would support an existing new elections bill if Barak
failed to make the effort to ask the Likud to join him -- but such a bill
could take months to come to fruition, as opposed to no-confidence motions,
which are effective almost immediately.
Barak broke long-standing taboos
Barak incurred the wrath of his opponents by breaking long-standing taboos at Camp David -- offering the Palestinians concessions on sharing Jerusalem, handing over the West Bank's strategic Jordan Valley, and allowing some Palestinian refugees to return.The talks broke down after the Palestinians insisted on full sovereignty in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war.
Barak's critics say that by showing Israel's full hand at Camp David, and offering the Palestinians a degree of autonomy in Jerusalem, he has given the Palestinians the upper hand.
Levy, whose Sephardic Jewish constituency is perceived as hawkish, balked at the proposals and refused to accompany Barak to Camp David.
Levy said last week his motives were pure. But analysts said he was frustrated at being ignored in the peace moves and hoped to find a new place on the political map in case Barak's government falls in October.
In another move apparently designed to placate Levy, Barak issued a statement saying he planned to devote more time to boosting the socio-economic issues that were the main reason Levy, a self-described champion of Israel's poor, gave for joining forces with Barak last year after decades on the right.
Levy has been credited with a role in bringing down two former prime ministers.
His resignation from the foreign minister post in 1998 was seen by some observers as the beginning of the end of Benjamin Netanyahu's term as prime minister.
And eight years ago, while serving as foreign minister, Levy played a major role in bringing down the government of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.
