Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon quitted the ruling ring-wing Likud party on Monday to form a new party and called for early elections, a move that will redraw the Jewish state's political map and raise uncertainty for its future dealing with the Palestinians.

Sharon's bold decision was seen as a landmark of his transformation from a hardliner to a moderate politician and an effort to hold on his set policy in peacemaking with the Palestinians following the successful pullout from the Gaza Strip.

Sharon asked President Moshe Katsav on Monday morning to dissolve the Knesset (parliament) and call early elections.

Sharon told the president that he had come to the conclusion that it is impossible to carry on as prime minister within the current Knesset since many Likud hardliners, who opposed Gaza pullout, were imposing too many constraints on him and would prevent future peace moves.

The political upheaval began with the newly elected Labor party leader Amir Peretz threatening last week to withdraw from the current coalition government led by Sharon and seek an early election in March, eight months ahead of schedule.

One of Sharon's associates predicted earlier that Sharon's new party would become the largest in the Knesset for it could absorb Knesset members outside Likud.

Numerous non-Likud persons were also reportedly planning to stand with the prime minister, including former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, Ben Gurion University President Avishai Braverman, Professor Uriel Reichman. Even former Likud minister Dan Meridor has expressed a desire to return to politics by joining Sharon's party.

Sharon met on Monday at his office with 11 breakaway Likud legislators to form the core of the new party called "National Responsibility", while more than 20 Likud lawmakers held a weekly meeting in the parliament after receiving a letter from Sharon announcing his resignation from the party.

Sharon was to announce the split formally in a nationally televised news conference later Monday, that was believed to bring a turbulent election campaign.

Following Sharon's decision to quit Likud, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately announced that he would run for the Likud leadership.

One opinion poll showed Monday that an alliance of Sharon's new party with the moderate Labor and leftist parties would command a comfortable majority in the 120-member parliament against a smaller but more hawkish Likud led by Netanyahu.

Freed from the constraints of Likud, Sharon would pursue the moderate line at will, a dramatic turnaround for him from a fervent supporter of Jewish settlements to the first Israeli leader to pull settlers and soldiers out of the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank.

President Katsav said that he would make a quick decision on Sharon's request after consulting Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, adding that an early election appears inevitable in the current political climate.

Katsav said the law gave him 21 days to decide, but he would rather do it much quickly. Asked whether the decision would be made within days, he replied, "less than days."

Army Radio said Monday that March 8, 2006 was now the most likely date of the elections as the general elections must be held within 90 days after the parliament was dissolved under Israeli law.

Following Sharon's departure, Likud Central Committee chairman Tzachi Hanegbi annouced that the Likud Central Committee would convene on Thursday to elect a new party leader.

Hanegbi admitted Sharon's departure had completed split of the Likud, partly because of the Likud "rebels", -- whose anti- disengagement and subsequent anti-Sharon stance are said to have contributed to the prime minister's departure.

Uzi Landau, one of the "rebels" who has announced his

intention to run for the Likud leader, said, "With Sharon leaving Likud, corruption will also leave the party."

The leader of the left-wing Meretz-Yahad faction described Sharon's decision as a "real opportunity" for the peace camp.

In comments aired on Israel Radio, Yossi Beilin called Sharon's resignation "a big victory for supporters of sharing the land."

The Palestinian National Authority said it was concerned about the impact of the political changes in Israel.

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Sha'ath also said Monday that "We, in the Palestinian leadership, are watching carefully the unfolding political developments (in Israel) to see its consequences on the peace process".

Sharon, who accepted the Quartet-sponsored peace road map for a two-state solution, has denied any plan of a second disengagement.

In stead of another disengagement, Israel under Sharon will reportedly opt for a "convergence plan", under which isolated West Bank settlements are dismantled, while other main settlement blocs bolstered.

Source: Xinhua