Labour recriminations begin as Mitzna heads for election defeat

With Israel voting in national elections one week from today, polls published yesterday predicted Ariel Sharon, the man who sent the tanks back into Palestinian towns and cities, would win with a commanding share of the vote.

Amram Mitzna, who promised to restart talks with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and withdraw from part of the occupied territories if he became Prime Minister, was heading for defeat.

A poll for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper predicted Mr Sharon's Likud Party would win 33 seats in the Knesset, while Mr Mitzna's Labour Party would win only 20. That would put Mr Sharon in a position to form Israel's next coalition government.

The immediate political future looks troubled for Israel. In a desperate bid to revive his flagging campaign – which appears not to have worked – Mr Mitzna has said Labour will not join a coalition under Mr Sharon. That would leave Mr Sharon depending on far-right and religious parties to form a government, something he has said he does not want.

But whether Labour will refuse to join Likud in the end is not certain. Mr Mitzna's political opponents are already busy sharpening their knives, suggesting he should resign after a poll found that Labour would get more votes with Shimon Peres, 79, as leader. Such a change before the elections is unlikely.