Israeli Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson told Israel Radio on Tuesday that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has no intention to form a new party ahead of the 2006 election.

"I know Sharon wants to struggle of Likud chairmanship, he wants to see the party united and leading Israel," said Hirchson, Sharon's close ally within the Likud party.

"Sharon will run for premiership as head of Likud," Hirchson added.

When asked about the shaky support Sharon has in the party according to recent polls, Hirchson said Sharon "does not need any legitimacy to remain in Likud. Had he wanted to retire from Likud he could have done it."

Sharon, who came back from New York on Monday, suffered from an Israeli Channel 10 report that he raised illegal campaign funds in New York.

The allegation came just a week before a decisive Likud Central Committee vote Sharon must go through if he is to remain party chairman.

Sharon allegedly attended a dinner Sunday night at which more than 150,000 US dollars was raised for campaign in the Likud primaries, Channel 10 reported. The report raised suspicion of alleged violation of the Parties Law.

Meanwhile, Sharon must make it clear to committee members that he intends to fight for the Likud leadership and has no intention to quit to form a new party. This is the only way he can block the primaries date from being moved forward.

Polls released on Monday showed Sharon was significantly narrowing the margin of support with Likud rival Binyamin Netanyahu in the power-broking Likud Central Committee, with Sharon edging ahead in some surveys.

Source: Xinhua