ARABS-ISRAEL - Feb. 6 - Sharon Wins; PA Anxious.

As Sharon defeats Barak in a landslide electoral victory and becomes Israel's 5th PM in less than 9 years, an article in Haaretz by former defence minister from Sharon's Likud party, Moshe Arens, says: "It is clear that a tidal wave is sweeping over Israel, sweeping away the 'peace now' conception. Now, after all

these years (since the 1993 Oslo peace process), a wide consensus is being forged. Arafat's rejection of Barak's egregious concessions is convincing proof that this is not the path to peace and security for Israel". PA Planning and International Co-operation Minister Nabil Shaath says: "There's a lot of anxiety about Mr. Sharon. Theoretically people can change, but..." Reuters quotes Arafat as saying: "We respect the decision of the Israeli people. We hope the peace process will continue". Earlier, a confident Sharon said the Israeli would vote for him because he would "preserve the unity of Jerusalem, united and undivided, the capital of the Jewish people" (see Israel below). Israel's Channel I TV anchor Haim Yavim says of Sharon's victory: "This is not a turn about, this is a knockout". IHT quotes a voter as saying: "We're in a war, and like in any war you just have to do certain things, not just say 'We want peace'", as Barak did. She said she abandoned Barak. (Even before the voting sites had closed, Sharon's right-wing allies said his ascent signalled a repudiation of the peace process, an effort that Sharon has always opposed). In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians protested Israel's 34-year-old occupation, and numerous shooting and stone-throwing attacks on Israeli army positions were reported. Israeli troops responded with tear gas and rubber-coated bullets; about 65 Palestinians were reported to have been wounded.