There are already calls being voiced among members of Israel’s prominent left-wing community, seeking to oust newly-elected Meretz Party leader Chaim Oron, who recently replaced Dr. Yossi Beilin in the hope of rebuilding the ailing left-wing party. Hundreds have signed a petition calling on Oron to ‘draw the appropriate conclusions” from the party’s failure in the election.

Oron however failed miserably in his mission, leaving Meretz with three seats, and leaving veteran party lawmaker Zahava Gal-On out of Knesset. There is now a growing momentum to oust Oron as leader, perhaps from the party’s list, as supporters of Gal-On seek a way to reinstate her, the champion of women’s rights and secularist legislation, a leader of opposition to any connection to religion and state.

In Labor, disgraced former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who was compelled to step down following his miserable performance in the Second Lebanon War, announced he is making another bid for the Labor Party leadership, telling supporters that Ehud Barak must step down after the party’s unprecedented defeat in the general elections, leaving Labor the fourth largest party in Israel.

Peretz stated that “one needn’t stand with a stopwatch as to when primaries will be held,” but he wanted to make his intentions known to party officials.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)