Corruption scandals are hitting outgoing president Ariel Sharon and his ruling Likud Party, according to polls published this morning.
With the Israeli general election less than three weeks away, analysts say Mr Sharon is no longer certain to form a new right-leaning coalition with a parliamentary majority, as his huge poll lead showed further signs of collapse.
One survey published in the liberal newspaper Haaretzgave Likud 27 of the 120 parliament seats, down from 31 a week ago and 41 four weeks ago. The party holds 19 seats.
Another poll in Yediot Aharonotpredicted Mr Sharon's party would win 28 seats, against 32 last week; a third in Maarivgave Likud 30 seats, against 34 last week and 40 in early December.
However, the figures show Mr Sharon's setback has not benefited Israel's main opposition Labour party. The center-left party is expected to win 20 to 24 seats, almost unchanged since last week. It currently holds 25.
The centrist, secular Shinui party is now expected to sweep 14 to 17 seats in the January 28th polls, more than doubling the six seats it holds.
The ultra-orthodox Shass party, and two extreme right-wing parties, the National Union and the National Religious Party are also forecast to gain from Likud's decline.
The latest scandal hit Mr Sharon on Tuesday when Haaretzsaid he had received a $1.5 million loan from a South African businessman to cover debts run up as a result of financial improprieties in his Likud leadership campaign in 1999.
Mr Sharon yesterday said: "This is a shameful political slander and I will prove it, by facts and documents".
The Likud party was already mired in a cash-for-votes scandal that emerged following the party's primaries last month and led on December 31st to the dismissal of a deputy minister by Mr Sharon.
Israel's Supreme Court has overturned a ban on two Arab candidates. The court found against an elections parliamentary committee recommendation to bar Mr Ahmed Tibi and Mr Azmi Bishara from the ballot, a statement said.
AFP &