CONSERVATIVES GAIN IN ISRAELI VOTE

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir said yesterday that the swing to the right in local elections showed support for his Likud Party, which opposes talks with the PLO. Likud candidates seized control of five key cities from the center-left Labor Party.

``National considerations were one of the strongest motivations of [voters],'' Mr. Shamir said in a radio interview.

Teddy Kollek, mayor of Jerusalem for 24 years, was re-elected. But his One Jerusalem party lost its city council majority due to left-wing gains and a Palestinian boycott. The loss of a majority could threaten Kollek's efforts to hold the city together.

Jewish religious parties grew in strength, while Muslim fundamentalists showed new muscle in Arab areas.