Sharon survives votes of no confidence as bomber strikes

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night survived three no-confidence votes, winning more time to try to restore the parliamentary majority he lost when the moderate Labour Party bolted his coalition last week.

Parliament also approved the appointment of a former army chief, Shaul Mofaz, as the new defence minister, despite criticism from across the political spectrum that Mr Mofaz was too fresh out of uniform to be given the job.

Mr Sharon also renewed a call to ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as his foreign minister. Mr Netanyahu said he would only take the job if Mr Sharon called early elections a response dismissed by Sharon aides as illogical.