OUTLASTED ANOTHER ONE:

Israel's Likud Finds Itself in a Free Fall: For decades, the party has dominated politics. But Sharon's departure has led to a humbling turnabout for the powerhouse movement. (Laura King, December 8, 2005, LA Times)

Not so long ago, any politician from Israel's conservative Likud Party could count on a consistently warm reception in the country's open-air produce markets. The cramped rows of stalls heaped with fresh tomatoes and fragrant spices had been the movement's heartland for as long as anyone could remember.

So when Uzi Landau, then a contender for the Likud leadership, toured a Tel Aviv market recently, he had reason to hope for the usual friendly meet-and-greet with vendors. Instead, he found himself heckled and booed.

"You wrecked the Likud!" a fruit seller shouted. "It's a shipwreck!" yelled a fishmonger.

Recall the neocon insistence that any departure on the part of the President from Likud's refusal to surrender any territory to the Palestinians was unacceptable?

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 8, 2005 1:43 PM