Sharon surges ahead in polls

Polls suggest Ariel Sharon will trounce Barak

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is under increasing pressure as polls show him falling a long way behind right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon ahead of the 6 February election.

Adding to his difficulties, Mr Barak's campaign staff have been forced to apologise to Mr Sharon over the use of an election advertisement showing piles of dead bodies from the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon.

Two polls published on Friday showed Mr Sharon with 50% support. One had Mr Barak on 22%, while another gave him 28% support.

Barak's reputation depends on success in the peace process

The polls suggest that Shimon Peres, a former prime minister and a Nobel peace laureate, would stand a better chance than Mr Barak against Mr Sharon.

The Palestinian-Israeli violence, in part ignited by Mr Sharon's controversial visit to the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif, appears to be benefiting the Likud leader.

Mr Sharon's key election promise to stop the violence seems to be resonating with Israeli voters.

Equally, Mr Barak's efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians - the platform on which he has based his reputation - now look like they may end in failure.

'Sabra and Shatila slur'

The advertisement used by the Barak campaign was meant to bring out the Arab Israeli vote against Mr Sharon.

The Likud leader is widely reviled across the Arab world for his role in the Sabra and Shatila massacres.

Shimon Peres could in theory still stand in February's election

Mr Sharon's team criticized the advertisement as incitement, and "character assassination against a future prime minister".

The 1982 massacres were carried out by Israel's Christian allies in Lebanon, but an Israeli Government commission found Mr Sharon, who was defence minister at the time, indirectly responsible and forced his resignation.

Peres comeback?

The latest polls put Shimon Peres neck-and-neck with Mr Sharon.

There have also been reports in the Israeli press that senior Labour party figures have asked Mr Barak to stand aside.

Mr Peres could theoretically still stand in place of Mr Barak. Israeli election law allows a candidate to resign from the race, and be replaced by a party colleague, up to 96 hours before the polling stations open.

However, the former prime minister has been protesting his loyalty to Mr Barak. They campaigned jointly this week and Mr Peres has been promised a more senior position in the next Barak administration should he win.