Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who is running for head of the Labor party, said Tuesday night that he will not make any deals with current party head Peretz to gain his (Peretz’s) support in the runoff elections. Peretz came in third in the first round of elections with 22.4% of the vote. His support is seen by most analysts as critical to Barak and MK Ami Ayalon, who are competing in the second round.

Sources close to Barak said they would make no effort to win Peretz’s support, and said that “at the end of the day, it’s not clear that his support will help.” Sources close to Peretz said that Peretz has not yet decided which candidate to support, but will support Barak if he promises to grant Peretz the Finance Ministry.