Internal Row in Labor over Platform, Talk of Split

Arutz Sheva ^ | 1/12/12 | Gil Ronen

[Eleutheria5]

Amir Peretz, who occupies the Number Three spot in the Labor party's list for the Knesset, mounted an attack on party leader Shelly Yechimovich on Channel 2's Meet the Press Saturday.

He demanded that Yechimovich state clearly that she will never sit in the Netanyahu government, and insisted that she spell out a detailed plan for peace with the Palestinian Authority.

The presenter, political reporter Rina Matzliah, asked him if it was true that he was considering splitting off from Labor after the election along with six other MKs. He did not confirm or deny this, but said that at this point he is trying to convince Yechimovich to take the steps he wants taken.

Yechimovich has been hard at work over the past few years creating a centrist image for herself, and even occasionally making gestures toward the right wing, like addressing the Ariel University Center. She has studiously avoided making political statements on the Arab-Israeli conflict that would pigeonhole her as a radical, preferring instead to talk about social and economic matters from what she says is "a social democratic" point of view.

Peretz headed the Labor party when Yechimovich joined it, seven years ago. He welcomed her heartily but...

[Eleutheria5]

Two months to elections, and Labor continues to implode. Chuckle. Make popcorn.

[onyx]

GOOD. Thank you very, very much for these updates.

GO Likud! GO Bibi!

[goldstategop]

Amir Peretz was the worst Defense Minister Israel ever had. He was a complete incompetent.

I don’t like Shelly Yachimovich’s politics but I like her as a person - she is one of the few Israeli leaders who is principled and honest.

That said, Labor’s internal warfare will probably cost the Center Left half its seats as it continues to cannibalize itself.

[Eleutheria5]

Worse than Ehud Barak? Wow. That’s saying a lot.