According to the Guardian the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has decided to leave Likud and found a new centrist party for the upcoming elections. Sharon has experienced some difficulties both in and outside the Likud party after he decided to withdraw the Israeli soldier from Gaza in spring of this year. According to reports, Mr Sharon left the party, which he founded in 1973, at 10pm last night local time and began informing his supporters.
His decision which has been the subject of months of speculation will send a shockwave through Israeli politics and precipitate elections in March.
Incumbent Israeli PM
Ariel Sharon

Mr Sharon wants to set up a centrist party which will lie in between Labour on the left and the Likud on the right in the political spectrum. Some commentators suggested the party will be called, Ha Tikvah, or the hope, which is also the title of Israel's national anthem.

The party will be a vehicle for Mr Sharon's plan to change the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. He hopes to withdraw from some settlements in the West Bank in order to guarantee Israel's hold on Jerusalem and some of the larger blocks of settlements.

Mr Sharon wants to take advantage of what he perceives as the weakness of the Palestinians and a favourable international climate to create new borders for Israel out of the West Bank territory it conquered in 1967.
Former leader of the
Israeli Labour Party

He is expected to take at least 13 Likud MPs with him but he may also attract a few supporters from Labour, such as Shimon Peres, the ousted Labour leader. Likud will also have to elect a new leader.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister would be the favourite in the absence of Mr Sharon but he will face several other contenders.