…Ariel Sharon’s Likud party appears to have won a big victory in Israel. Here’s the latest: “The results signaled a strong reaffirmation of Sharon’s tough military policies aimed at destroying the Palestinian Authority, his decision not to negotiate with its leader, Yasser Arafat, his military reoccupation of most of the West Bank, and his vow to make no peace overtures until the Palestinians completely cease attacks on Israelis everywhere. At the same time, the vote was an apparent repudiation of parties that support more conciliatory policies, such as reopening political talks with the Palestinian leadership, dismantling Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and withdrawing Israeli troops from Palestinian territories.”