Mayor of Haifa Seeks to Run Against Sharon

JERUSALEM, Aug. 13 — A threat by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to call early elections and the sudden rise of a new political star have combined to fire up that most ardent of Israeli pursuits, domestic electoral politics.

The new star, Amram Mitzna, a retired major general and the two-term mayor of Haifa, formally announced today that he was running for leader of the Labor Party.

He pledged to open talks with the Palestinians "without delay" and without preconditions, including any demands about changes in the Palestinian leadership.

In the two weeks since Mr. Mitzna first disclosed his intention to run, he has created a powerful stir in the Labor Party, whose dispirited rump has been part of Mr. Sharon's governing coalition since the shattering defeat of the last Labor government under Ehud Barak 18 months ago.

On Monday, Mr. Sharon declared that he was prepared to call for a quick election if he continued facing resistance to the 2003 budget. Parliament reconvenes in October, and Israeli law requires 90 days before an election, so the earliest date would be in January. If an early election is not held, Mr. Sharon's term will run through October of next year.

The prime minister issued his warning at a meeting of the foreign affairs and defense committee of Parliament. "Elections are not a good thing now, but we have to pass the budget, which is not easy," he said. "Therefore, if the budget does not pass, it is natural that we should have elections."