Security key issue for Israeli voters

Ariel Sharon - Israel's current prime minister - is a tough former general. His campaign video has made much of his military past - and his standing on the world stage.

Television viewers have been treated to a speedy montage of his shaking hands with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and President George W Bush.

Allegations of corruption in his Likud party have damaged his position in the polls - but he is still expected to get the largest share of the vote.

His main rival - the Labour party's Amram Mitzna - has failed to capitalise on Mr Sharon's woes. His promise to restart talks with the Palestinians has yet to prove a hit with the voters.

Opinion polls suggest that Labour is trailing badly, and will struggle to retain the 26 seats it holds in the outgoing Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

Israeli fears

Take a walk down one of Jerusalem's shopping streets, and people's comments reinforce the pollsters' findings.

Avraham Zakaim has had a jewellery shop for 15 years. The afternoon I visited, it was almost empty of customers. He says his business is down by 80% - a result of hard times in the economy and the dearth of tourists.

But, for him, money is not the main issue.

" People are afraid to walk in the streets, they are afraid to sit in restaurants "
Israeli voter

"The economy is not too important if you don't have security," he told me from behind his counter. "I like my children to be able to go to the street, I like freedom for Arabs and Israelis."

Shoppers echoed his views - and expressed the belief that Mr Sharon is the man to address those fears.

"People now need more security, you know, in Israel, and I don't think that Mitzna is going to do that," said one woman.

"People are afraid to walk in the streets. People are afraid to sit in restaurants. I'm afraid to walk here," said a young man, gesturing at the shopping area.

Suicide attacks

Experts say these concerns dominate the campaign. Rueven Hazan, professor of political science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, explains why this is an unusual election.

"There aren't main issues," he says. "There's only one issue, and that's security. If there were any other issues then Ariel Sharon would not win the election, because the economy is devastated.

"Every shopping centre you go to has guards at the entrance, and every cafeteria you go to. Anyone who has been in Israel understands that life here is a war situation."

The most brutal examples of that have been suicide attacks. Palestinian bombers plan their operations to hit the softest targets, to cause the maximum civilian casualties.

In response, the Israeli army has occupied almost all the main Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank. The troops' presence has both limited the bombers' activity, and made the militants vow to continue their fight.

If, as expected, Israelis re-elect Mr Sharon, his critics say they will be voting for more of the same. His supporters believe that only he can eventually deliver security.