Centre Party leader Yitzhak Mordechai, (L) is greeted by a well-wishers as he announced his withdrawl from the Israeli prime ministers race on May 16 at a press conference in Tel Aviv, a day before the general election. The Centre Party candidate urged backers to support Labour party leader Ehud Barak, a move that according to opinion improves Barak chances of ousting Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mondays vote.

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