It is, however, worthy to note this time that the Palestinian issue is the main topic of these "battles", not only in the general elections campaigns, but also in the parties’ internal campaign as well.

In a previous article – "An invitation to the Israeli Voters"- I wrote that this fact not only makes the Palestinians interested in observing what is going on in the Israeli electoral campaign, but rather to try and influence Israeli voters positions.

This matter has added one more characteristic to this campaign, resulting in the links to local, regional and International factors. Most important among these is the linkage between these elections and the discussions on the American plan.

Israel has officially asked Washington to postpone any discussion on the implementation of its "Road Map" till after the elections. The unpublicised response of US national security advisor Condaleeza Rice was positive, though she hinted that the US Administration wants its peace initiative to be a central issue in the Israeli elections. This is what is happening.

Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu went into battle during the Likud's internal elections on the issue of establishment of a Palestinian State. Sharon declared his acceptance of a Palestinian State - although on his own terms - in an appeasing gesture to the US Administration.

Furthermore, the Palestinian issue was central to the internal campaign within the Labour Party as well. The concealed contention between Amram Mitzna and Benjamin Ben Eliezer centred on the definition of the "Palestinian State" and the future of the settlements.

In the Middle East, as well as in Washington, within the White House and the corridors of the State Department, that seems to be the central issue. As soon as the internal elections were accomplished, with the formation of the electoral lists, Sharon began by forecasting a "tight" national unity government. He further elaborated that it will be "tight" in size, if not in Jurisdiction.

Labour leaders have not dropped this option. At least they kept the door open for it. Soon after the formation of the Labour Party's list, prominent candidates on its top, such as Ben Eliezers, Peres, and Vilnai, issued statements keeping the door open before a national unity government.

Sharon wants the right wing of the Labour party to be on his side against the Likud, in case the dispute over the US plans bursts. Mitzna, on the other hand, needs Sharon block's support in case party of Labor's bloc moves towards the left.

Both sides have kept the option of a national unity government for contingency purposes. Calculations of both sides in such a situation goes beyond poll results (40-41 Likud) versus (20-21 Labour). Sharon's calculation, as well as Mitzna's, is linked to some details: who sides with Sharon or Mitzna, best or worst scenarios.

Let me add that the struggle in this area, and among Israeli parties, will depend on the general characteristic of Israeli voters, being rather generally moody. Out of what I gather from previous Israeli election campaigns, 30-40% of Israelis decide whom they will vote for at the very last minute. This decision is influenced by a number of factors, the most "trifle" of which may become the most important. Surprises may occur as a result of this general mood, in spite of the poll's prediction of a wide margin Likud victory of parliamentary seats.

In Washington, efforts of the US administration headed by President Bush revolve around one objective: re-election of Bush for a second term. To achieve this, internal and external US policy is formulated to win American public internally, and to spread the spirit of US supremacy, power and dominance, externally.

To "rescue" the American collapsing economy, Bush has planned, and is working hard to control oil production, thereby marginalizing OPEC forever and satisfying the big US oil companies. He has planned to use military power to achieve his goal. He further aims at easing or reducing taxes to mislead the US citizen who is being devoured daily by major companies pursuing all forms of fraud and deception to gain illegal profits. On the other hand, Bush is attempting to woe and gain support of fundamentalist Christian and Jewish Coalition to makes sure his re-election.

According to the "doves" recommendations, it is necessary to implement the American vision of the Palestine question by the establishment of a Palestinian State on the West Bank and Gaza, thereby absorbing this antagonism to a large degree.

To do this, he has to reassure the Zionists and fundamentalist Christians of his vision of peace in the Middle East. He will not force un-wilful solutions on Israel. The dangerous game into which Bush has embroiled himself, might not lead to his victory. The traps he set for others might turn on to him. Christian and Jews may desert him, only after squeezing him to the last drop. This probability does not, however, relieve us from following the game which George W. Bush has plunged himself into.

A friend of mine, well connected to the White House, sent me an e-mail saying "I am sorry to tell you that Abrams, who is far beyond Sharon to the right, is his representative in the White House now".

During Reagan's Presidency, Elliot Abrams was responsible for Latin America and carried out illegal, illegitimate and criminal activates against free states of that continent. A Most prominent example is in Nicaragua. Soon after Congress suspended US support of Sandinista opposition, Abrams concluded a deal with Iran - providing Israeli arms-with the aim of using profits of this deal to finance "Contra" activities --, which resulted in massacres against civilians in Nicaragua, an episode that came to be known as the "Iran Gate -Contra affair".

It is a well-known fact in Washington that Abrams is close to AIPAC, the most important supporter of Israel in the United States. He is also very enthusiastic for Sharon and extremely antagonistic to Yaser Arafat. Thereby, Bush has granted Sharon all he wanted, a green light for a military offensive against Palestinians, and condoned his big crimes against civilians under the pretext of self-defence, and now appoints Sharon's man responsible for the Middle East file.

The situation in the Middle East (Israel and Palestine) is crystal clear; it cannot be solved militarily, even if lots of blood has been spilled. The situation calls for political remedy.

The question that remains is: will President Bush be able to utilize all these factors to have Sharon pay the necessary bills? Or will Bush pay the bills instead of Sharon? ENDS PALESTINE AND ISRAEL ELECTIONS 181202