Benjamin Netanyahu has lost some 11 percent of his support in the past 11 days, and the gap between Netanyahu and Prime minister Ariel Sharon is getting closer within the ruling Likud party, said a survey published by local newspaper Haaretz on Tuesday.

Netanyahu, who resigned recently as finance minister, is still leading with 44 percent to Sharon's 38 percent, according to the survey conducted for Haaretz by the Dialogue institute over the past two days.

Less than two weeks ago, Netanyahu led with a majority of 47 percent to Sharon's 30.5 percent. One thing that should also worry him is that most of the Likud members who seemed to be ready to do anything to oust Sharon a week or two ago now object to Netanyahu's demand to advance the primaries.

The poll showed that 52 percent of the Likud members support Sharon's position that the primaries should be held as scheduled in around April 2006. Only 42 percent want primaries to be held immediately in November.

Most Likud party members realize that advancing the primaries means shortening the Likud's days in power and galloping into an election campaign, the outcome of which is unknown.

Netanyahu, 55, served as Israeli prime minister from 1996 to 1999. He resigned his position as finance minister on Aug. 7 in protest at Sharon's plan to evacuate settlers from all settlements in the Gaza Strip and four small West Bank enclaves.

In a direct challenge to Sharon, Netanyahu declared his candidacy last Tuesday for chairmanship of the Likud and as the party's candidate for the premiership.

Last week, the party's court ruled that the Likud Central Committee would vote on Sept. 26 on a proposal to advance the party's leadership primaries, thereby effectively beginning the process of ousting Sharon as the party's head.

Sharon has said he would definitely run in the primaries, but would not agree to be Netanyahu's number two if he lost.

Source: Xinhua