As the Labor Party continues to slip in the polls, the party�s infighting and dispute surrounding the lineup is taking its toll as well, with the party�s legal body issuing a decision overruling the secured slots that were announced by Ehud Barak.

The head of Labor�s young guard, attorney Mayan Amudai appealed to the party�s legal authority in protest over Binyamin Ben-Eliezer being guaranteed the sixth place on the lineup. The appeal was originally rejected but taking it to a higher body resulted in the secure slot being canceled along with others, which represented party leader Barak�s effort to guarantee certain positions for his allies. The decision to undo the appointments may result in a delay in next week�s planned party primaries.

The decision also removes the guaranteed slots of Eitan Cabel, the party secretary, and even Ehud Barak, as the party leader.

Ben-Eliezer�s associates indicate the former party leader does not plan to appeal the decision, adding �let Barak and Cabel appeal it�.

Some veteran party members lament the fact that instead of moving ahead and preparing for the election, the party is busying itself with infighting.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)