New poll shows Sharon taking lead over rivals

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is widening his lead over his rivals ahead of March elections, according to a new public opinion poll published today.

The poll in the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper said Sharon’s centrist Kadima party would capture 39 of 120 seats in parliament, up from 34 seats in a poll the previous week.

The dovish Labour Party would take 23 seats, down from 27 the previous week, and Likud, the hard-line party that Sharon recently quit, fell to 13 seats from 16.

Sharon said leaving Likud would give him more freedom to seek a peace deal with the Palestinians.