ISRAEL: LABOUR LEADERSHIP CONTEST TURNS INTO A BARAK-AYALON SHOWDOWN

Tel Aviv, 29 May (AKI) - Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak has won the most number of votes in Monday's election for Labour Party leader, but not enough to avoid a run-off next month with the second-placed candidate, former Shin Bet security services chief Ami Ayalon. Labour Party secretary general Eitan Cabel, a supporter of Barak's candidacy, told Israel Radio Tuesday morning that "Barak will have to sweat profusely in order to win the support of the [outgoing party leader and Israeli defence minister Amir] Peretz voters," and that Barak's camp will do all that it can to win them over.

Throughout his campaign Peretz, focused his verbal attacks on Barak, leading analysts to predict that he would support Ayalon in a second round.

Tel Aviv daily Haaretz has cited sources close to the defence minister saying that Peretz is likely to support the candidate most likely to obtain the treasury portfolio from Prime Minister Olmert.

Voter turnout was high in the Monday voting, with nearly two-thirds of eligible party members castingn their ballots.

As the final votes were counted early on Tuesday, the margin between Ayalon and Barak widened slightly, with Barak emerging as the leader.

Small margins separated the two candidates as during counting throughout the night, with the final result unclear until 87 percent had been processed. Barak finished with 34.2 percent of votes to Ayalon's 31.7 percent.

Peretz, who along with Olmert has been heavily criticised by a government-appointed commission for his handling of last year's war with Lebanon, trailed throughout the poll, finishing with 21.8 percent of votes, while Ophir Pines-Paz had 7.9 percent.

I'm rooting for Israel's Dr. Strangelove: Little Ehud. He would help to finish off the rump Labor Party. Ami Ayalon is just Yossi Beilin with a bald pate.

Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

2 posted on 05/29/2007 6:07:06 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)

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