December 24, 1998

Gen. Amnon Lipkin-Shahak resigns fr. the IDF, announces he will challenge Netanyahu for PM. In recent mos., polls have shown that Shahak, a respected military figure but political unknown, could beat Netanyahu in a 2-candidate race by as much as a 15-point margin. Shahak led the Israeli team in FRD discussion with the PA under fmr. PM Yitzhak Rabin. (NYT, WT 12/25; CSM 1/8)