Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today he would fight to retain the leadership of his right-wing Likud party despite dissent spurred by the withdrawal from Gaza.
The Israeli leader, who recently returned from a trip to the United Nations where he was praised for the pullout, did not say whether he would quit the party if he loses and lead a new faction to run in a national ballot next year.
"I plan to ... run (in a vote to head) the Likud, win and lead the Likud in elections, which will be held on schedule, in order to keep the Likud in power," Israeli media quoted Mr Sharon as telling members of his party at his office in Jerusalem.
Mr Sharon, who is serving his second term, faces dissent in the party, with Benjamin Netanyahu, a former prime minister, gaining support among opponents of the Gaza pullout which was completed on September 12th.
The Likud Central Committee will vote on September 26th on whether to hold early elections for the party's leadership as requested by Mr Netanyahu, who quit Mr Sharon's cabinet before the start of the Gaza pullout in August and later said he would challenge Mr Sharon.