Commenting on the decision of Labor party members to join the unity government currently under formation, party leader MK Amir Peretz said, "I thank all the party's members - those who voted for entering the unity government, as well as those who opposed it.
"This evening we won the backing of an overwhelming majority of delegates to become a force for social democracy in the incoming government, and to implement sweeping economic changes in the daily lives of Israeli citizens," he said.
"We are not joining a right-wing government," Peretz emphasized. "We are joining a unity government, an equitable government with a rotation agreement [for prime minister]. Our strategic cooperation with Benny Gantz will restore the Labor movement to its place as a leading political movement that has real influence in Israel. I wish to thank my fellow Knesset member Itzik Shmuli for his cooperation, and I am certain that the citizens of Israel will find in him an excellent Welfare Minister ... In the coming days, I intend to work toward unifying the party so that we can work together effectively," Peretz concluded.