Begin, son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin who was one of the founders of the Israeli state and later founder of the Likud party, has become disillusioned with Netanyahu's direction in handling the peace process with the Palestinians. He feels that the land for peace agreements of Oslo and the Wye Conference attack the core values of the Likud party that once stood for an Israel inclusive of territory captured as a result of the 1967 Six Day War. Although probably not in favor with the majority of Israelis, this view is shared by the right wing that feels it has been betrayed by Netanyahu.
He has formed his own political party, claiming it to be a purer form of Likud and one that goes back to the core values that Likud once stood for. The problem is that Begin's positions don't reflect the new reality that Oslo and Wye have occurred and are not going to be revoked. The peace process is moving forward despite protestations from the extreme right wing. This is the chief problem that Begin will have in trying to garner votes outside of his core constituency as his message will ring hollow with voters in the center.
One major threat to the entire election process in Israel is the possibility of violence being used to sway public opinion. As terrorist bombs helped sway the 1996 elections away from Oslo Accord architect Shimon Peres and guaranteed Benjamin Netanyahu an election win, so too could a new round of violence push votes towards the right wing who are seen as being more capable of protecting Israeli security interests. However, that is illusory as recent events have shown that the right wing has no magic bullet to solving the security issue with continued violence in Hebron and along the Lebanese border.
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