Former Prime Minister Ehud and Knesset Member Ami Ayalon are running neck-and-neck in the race to replace Defense Minister Amir Peretz as chairman of the Labor party. A Thursday poll for Voice of Israel government radio gave Barak the support of 46.5 percent of the respondents, with MK Ayalon receiving 45.3 percent.

Party members will vote next week, two weeks after the first round of voting that knocked the incumbent party leader and MKs Ofir Pines-Paz and Danny Yatom out of the race. Defense Minister Peretz has backed MK Ayalon, and the other two losing contenders are supporting Barak.