contest between Barak and Netanyahu.
The results of the Knesset election were less clear-cut. Both One Israel and Likud lost seats Likud dropping from 32 to 19, and almost being overtaken as the main opposition by the North African religious Jewish Shas party, which rose from 10 to 17 SCATS.
Parties representing the recent large Russian immigration rose from 7 to 10 seats, while those representing mainly Palestinians rose from 9 to ten (within this, 'the Communist Party lost two to Bishara's Balad party).
As well as the Centre Party, the new anti-orthodox Shinui party gained six seats. Shinui, which represents parts of the Western secular intelligentsia, is a party of the right; many of its attacks on religious parties were criticised, and not only by the orthodox themselves, as bordering on antisemitic. The religious parties had a net gain of 4, and now hold 27 seats - nearly one-quarter of the Knesset. The new One Nation/Workers List, led by Amir: Peretz, a former Labour MK and General Secretary of the Histadrut, received two seats.
In the new Knesset, 60 of the 120 delegates are from the "left" or centre, while 60 represent the right-wing or religious parties. Even for a leader committed to peace, democracy and a secular society, this would pose problems.
Since Barak, like most of the soTerry Conway THE CRICKET World Cup is over and predictably England ducked out after a poor performance not even making it to the Super Sixes. The effect of the contest on cricket in this country however is less clear than the media's nationalism would lead us to believe.
The final was certainly a damp squib - but there were highly memorable moments elsewhere. The Australia-South Africa semi-final was one of the best matches i can remember seeing in several decades, and the last over was unforgettable.
There are other cameos that will stay with me for a long time -Shoiab's sheer joy running into bowl, the impact of later order players like Klusner and Moin Khan, Warne's come back, the enthusiasm of the young Bangladeshis after their important victory over Pakistan, to name but a few. And I still think that Chanderpaul's catch outshone Jonty Rhodes' - despite what the BBC's panel of experts says.
These and other memories will impact on the many who watched them including those with whom the future of the game rests - the young people inspired by these and other role models. Wasim's decision to stay in Britain and work the clubs in Smethwick may have been shaped by events back home in Pakistan, but it will still make a crucial contribution to the future of the game. Some of the highlights will even have interested those who don't like the game.
The India v Pakistan match at Old Trafford rightly merited the front page of the Eastern Eye - not for the quality of the He's back: Shane Warne play on the field, which was itself pretty gripping, but for the performance of the supporters.
Despite the escalating conflict over Kashmir and the fears that this would be used to stir up trouble at the match, supporters in Manchester were determined to enjoy a good day's cricket. Leaflets on the conflict distributed by campaigning group Hit Racism for Six were extremely popular, and whenever things looked like they might get a little out of hand fans spontaneously held the flags of both countries corner to corner. It has been common currency amongst the experts that if English cricket is going to undergo a rebirth after the familiar embarrassing showing of the host team, then it will have to draw in more Asian players and fans. Less common has been any real discussion about how that might he athlayar Unless the cricket establishment faces up to the ways in which the game is riven by racism at every level then they will not succeed in this aim. Nasser Hussain's captaincy will not be enough. The June submission by Hit Racism for Six to the English Cricket Board's (ECB) racism study group explains key ways in which racism operates: • There have been numerous incidents of racist abuse at some cricket grounds • Many black or Asian teams find themselves excluded from mainstream leagues Black and Asian cricketers suffer disproportionately from the poor access to cricketing facilities in the imner cities • Many black and Asian spectators are deterred from attending matches by the ban on banners and musical instruments, the high price of tickets and the fear of racial harassment. Action on these, coupled with pressure on more county sides to select players from Britain's black and asian population could help provide the shot in the arm that British cricket so desperately needs.
John Lister L ABOUR governments have always been craven See alets of capitalism and eager guardians of the secrecy of its state machine.
Jack Straw's feeble "Freedom of Information Bill" actually offers today's campaigners even fęwer. rights on some issues than they OUTLOOK in Tottenham in November 1977,