Netanyahu added, "Arafat violated the core of the agreement. He is now head of the world's largest terrorist organization."

Netanyahu's visit to Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria and his radio interview are part of a concentrated effort to make a political comeback. For the past few months, Netanyahu has been traveling across Israel, attending conventions, celebrations and events, meeting with members of the Likud party and talking about Israel's security situation.

In all of these places, Netanyahu has been careful not to

"We must expand our activities against the Palestinian Authority." - Bibi Netanyahu

personally criticize Likud party chairman, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Netanyahu usually refrains from mentioning Sharon's name out loud in public appearances, but even so, his message is clear. Netanyahu feels that Sharon's policy of restraint sends a signal that Israel is weak.

"The policy of restraint, instead of a policy of resolute response, paves the way for a deterioration of the situation," Netanyahu says. "The risk of inaction is more dangerous than that of restraint."

One of the first questions Netanyahu is invariably asked is what would he do as Prime Minister to extricate Israel from its present difficult security situation? "When I was Prime Minister, I exerted heavy pressure on the Palestinian Authority, and during my term in office there was very little terrorism," Netanyahu told Arutz 7 this week. "We must expand our activities against the PA, but this is contingent upon achieving the proper international public-opinion conditions."

In Netanyahu's opinion, pressure on the Palestinians would include strikes against their telephone system, radio and telephone networks, fuel supplies and strategic transportation points, "while at the same time allowing unlimited food and medicine to pass."

Netanyahu is often faced with heated questions from members of the right, who ask him why he agreed to sign the Hebron and Wye agreements. Netanyahu admits that he regrets signing the Hebron accord, and says that when Palestinians shoot at the city's Jewish residents from the Abu Sneneh hill, he would not hesitate to go in and take it back. Netanyahu says he was able to prevent the withdrawal from the rest of Judea and Samaria by agreeing to withdraw in Hebron.

Power test between Sharon and Netanyahu
In his intensive campaign to win Likud party support, Netanyahu is supported by his bureau chief, former Yesha Council head Shlomo Filber, Knesset Member Yisrael Katz and others. Netanyahu's visits overseas on lecture tours enabled his campaign to raise funds from his many supporters there. Netanyahu is not restricted in his fund-raising activities as he is not a serving Knesset member, does not have an official position and is not even a declared candidate for the Likud leadership.

Next week's meeting of the Likud Central Committee is seen as a power test between Sharon and Netanyahu. Both Sharon and Netanyahu will speak at the meeting, which will discuss political matters. Much of Netanyahu's growing support in the party is not because Likud members have a fondness for the former prime minister, but rather because they object to Sharon's policy of restraint.

In a Gallup poll conducted for Maariv earlier this month, adult Israelis were asked who they would prefer to see as chairman of the Likud and its candidate for prime minister. While Ariel Sharon easily defeated Binyamin Netanyahu by 48% - 31% among all those who were polled, Netanyahu defeated Sharon by 46% - 44% among those identified with the right.

Netanyahu's comeback trail appears to be heading due right.

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