Gen. (Res.) Ariel Sharon said yesterday that he would call for the establishment of a “national emergency” government in Israel consisting of a dozen “top men,” the platform of which would be Israel’s permanent retention of the West Bank. Sharon addressed about 600 delegates to the founding convention of his new Shlomzion movement which hopes to win Knesset seats in the May 17 elections.
The Yom Kippur War hero was elected by acclamation to head the list and 34 other Knesset candidates were selected by secret ballot. The convention was held out of doors at the new town of Maale Edumim on the West Bank, mid-way between Jerusalem and Jericho. A picnic atmosphere prevailed. The delegates and their friends listened to speeches under a hot sun while drinking soda pop and munching shashlik.
No prominent personalities were evident among Sharon’s followers. A number of delegates were recognized as former soldiers who had served under Sharon in the 1950s when, as a captain, he commanded the crack 101st Unit that spear-headed reprisal attacks against Arab terrorists.
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