A thunderous standing ovation for Ariel Sharon on Tuesday in the newly convened Likud Party convention suggests Israel's prime minister is far more popular than longtime rival and former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who wants to expel Yasser Arafat from Palestine.

The contest for party leadership is important because public opinion polls suggest the reigning Likud Party will win the January 28 national elections. Whoever is party leader will probably be Israel's next prime minister.

Sharon and Netanyahu's appearance at the convention's meeting, in the Fair Grounds in northern Tel Aviv, turned out to be an open popularity contest.

When Netanyahu headed to his seat on the dais, delegates applauded in unison, but the enthusiasm with which he had been met in the past was absent.

When Sharon's arrival was announced, the walls reverberated with applause, chants of "Arik, Arik," Sharon's nickname, and with delegates singing, "Arik, King of Israel."

Muffled voices chanted Netanyahu's nickname, "Bibi, Bibi."

The meeting started several hours late – allowing for back-room election agreements to avoid open confrontations. They agreed the runner-up in the Nov. 28 primary for party leadership would automatically become No. 2 on the Likud Knesset list, providing he wins at least 30 percent of the votes. Other arrangements were made to secure seats for new faces.

Netanyahu, who last week accepted the foreign minister post left vacant by the resignation of Labor Minister Shimon Peres, underscored his hawkish image by advocating Palestinian leader YASSER ARAFAT'S expulsion.

"The first thing the next government should do is expel Arafat," he said to applause. "This is vital to eradicating terror."

Netanyahu criticized the government's new budget that cuts benefits for the growing number of poor people: "The way to help people is not to impose more hardships but to create more job openings," he said.

Sharon tacitly ridiculed Netanyahu in his own comments.

"Security will not be attained through slogans and magic solutions," he said in evident reference to the call for Arafat's expulsion. "Security will be attained only thanks to our determination to act cool headedly, sensibly, responsibly. ... Only after the enemy [is beaten] in its towns, its hiding places. That is why [the army] enters every place, at all times, all the time."

Clearly aware of international criticism if Israel should try to expel Arafat, Sharon said the country must not be guided by a sense of revenge. "That is important so that Israel can continue to act against terror without interferences and pressures."

"The people of Israel want a responsible leadership," he said.