Netanyahu sworn in as FM

2002-11-06 19:12

Jerusalem - Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israel's new foreign minister on Wednesday, with plans to challenge Ariel Sharon as Israel's leader with a get-tough policy towards the Palestinians.

The 53-year-old right-winger, popularly known as "Bibi", took the standard parliamentary oath a day after Prime Minister Sharon called an early election in the wake of the centre-left Labour Party's defection from his coalition.

Netanyahu replaces Shimon Peres, who quit along with five other Labour ministers last week in a dispute over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied land.

By taking the foreign portfolio in the minority government, Netanyahu returns to a political stage he largely abandoned after Labour's Ehud Barak ousted him as prime minister in 1999.

Before the nation-wide vote, Israel's two main parties - Sharon's right-wing Likud and Labour - will hold leadership elections. Netanyahu said he would challenge Sharon for the Likud leadership in a party primary expected within a month.

Palestinian officials and European Union diplomats voiced concern that Sharon's decision to hold elections nine months ahead of schedule would stir more turmoil in the Middle East at a time when Washington is threatening war with Iraq.

"This puts off any serious peace effort before the elections...Israeli political infighting, both between the parties and within each of the parties, will make progress impossible for now," an EU diplomat said.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said he hoped Netanyahu would stick to peace accords he signed with the Palestinians during his previous stints in the Israeli government.

- Reuters