Sharon to lead new party into looming election battle

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said goodbye to the party he helped create more than three decades ago and set out to lead a new, centrist faction, pledging to work for a peace deal with the Palestinians and address Israel’s social and economic ills.

At a press conference last night, Sharon ruled out more unilateral withdrawals in the West Bank and said he remains committed to the internationally backed “road map” plan, which calls for a negotiated peace deal culminating in a Palestinian state.