Opposition leader MK Yitzhak Herzog dismissed on Monday the heckling he received from angry members of the Labor Central Committee during a party gathering in Holon the day before.
The incident occurred Sunday evening at the launch of the “Widening Circles” project for expanding support for the Labor party.
Herzog has come under fire from members of his party in recent days, following his public declarations that it is currently impossible to reach a two-state solution and create a state of "Palestine" in Judea and Samaria.
"Yesterday at the conference, a few noisemakers stood up and called me a dictator," Herzog said at the start of the Labor faction meeting on Monday afternoon. "Thank you for the compliment."
"If that is the price for ousting the party from engaging in endless internal business and turning to look out at what really matters to the public, I'm ready to pay for it," he declared.
"The ideological debate that developed this week around the plan I presented is a blessing," Herzog continued. "I never for a moment lose sight and faith in the vision of two states."
"The path I propose is the pragmatic path which will lead to a place that makes Israel's security and the struggle against terror a top priority. Those who want to continue selling simple dreams to the public are causing damage to our chances of returning security and quiet to the region."
"Everyone around us is criticizing and shouting but the plan I formulated proposes practical steps and measures which will protect the Jewish and democratic [character] of the State of Israel," Herzog argued.
"This is my vision, and if I understand correctly the 'values of the Labor movement' - it is also the vision by which they were written."