Press reels over Sharon drama

The decision by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to leave Likud, found a new party and go for a snap general election leaves Israel's papers in no doubt that a political 'earthquake' is under way.

There is fascination with Mr Sharon's game plan, aimed at undermining the very party that he founded, but also awareness that his strategy is high risk. Commentators invoke comparisons with figures as diverse as General de Gaulle and British comedian Benny Hill.

COMMENTARY BY BEN KASPIT IN MAARIV

The political drama is unprecedented... A popular, serving prime minister is quitting a secure ruling party and leaves for the political wilderness out of his own volition... Why? Because he is fed up with the current Likud... Because he has no intention of being stuck with a rightist ultra-religious government for another term. Because he feels and believes this is possible. Because he really wants his name to go down in history. And because the best of his advisers, and now his sons, are telling him: 'Go for it'.

COMMENTARY BY SIMA KADMON IN YEDIOT AHARONOT

What we have here is a real earthquake... Sharon is in the best possible starting position, where he appeals to most of the Israeli public. Yet there are two big obstacles in his path: organisation - will he manage to establish a party in just three months? - and the matter of the list - will he succeed in composing an attractive candidate list, that would include both known and new figures?

COMMENTARY BY NADAV EYAL IN MAARIV

Sharon knows well that there is no parallel existence in politics: either the Likud continues to be a ruling party or his new party becomes a ruling party. As long as one party exists the other is liquidated. This is a winner-takes-all game and the survival battle has begun. Sharon's party will have to make Likud disappear or Likud itself - the strength of the brand and history on its side - will overcome the Sharon party, swallow it in the election campaign and then digest it.

COMMENTARY BY ALUF BENN IN HAARETZ

It is difficult to ignore the historical irony: Sharon founded Likud in 1973 and now he intends to dismantle it. Exactly as he did with the settlements, which first he founded, then destroyed. Those around him recall what happened during the Algerian crisis of 1958, when France called on General de Gaulle to lead it. De Gaulle responded and took France out of Algeria after he struggled with the settlers. The Gaullist party he established united around his leadership and not around any ideological 'ism', and still exists to this say.

COMMENTARY BY YOSSI VERTER IN HAARETZ

Yesterday's cabinet meeting resembled a typical closing scene of a show in the nonsense television series 'Benny Hill', when the images are fast-forwarded and all the characters circle one another.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.