Levy Challenges Shamir for Post
JERUSALEM — Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy said Saturday that he will challenge Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir for leadership of the ruling Likud Party.
“I believe the time has come to stand up and compete for the leadership of the Likud,” Levy told a wildly cheering crowd of supporters in Tel Aviv.
Political analysts said it would be the first time the party’s three top figures--Levy, Shamir and Housing Minister Ariel Sharon--had fought one another for the leadership.
But neither Sharon nor Levy is believed to have enough support to topple Shamir.
Shamir brought forward Israel’s general election from November to June 23 after losing his parliamentary majority last month. Two far-right parties quit the coalition over peace talks with Palestinians.
Levy has been credited with nudging Israel to the peace table.
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