The Morning After Sharon

ISRAEL - The New Year started in Israel and in Palestine with expectations to the general elections in both sides, which were supposed to open a new stage in the dialogue between them towards political arrangements. No one expected a deep change – Mahmud Abbas was, and still is, the leading candidate to continue his role as the Palestinian Prime Minister, even though he is getting weaker every day, and Ariel Sharon was expected to lead the new party he had formed “Kadima” (Forward) to a sweeping victory and to form a more stable government for Israel in late March.