Amir Peretz, who became Labor's leader this past November and then led his party to a respectable showing in the national election, has already chosen his party's seven ministers for the coming government. The question to be decided today is whether the party membership accepts his choices.
Peretz angered many in the party by leaving out newcomers Avishai Braverman and Ami Ayalon from his list of Cabinet ministers. Former party chairman Amram Mitzna, for instance, says that this is a form of deception, in that Peretz promised the voting public a "new politics," implying that the new faces would be in his Cabinet.
Peretz-apologists Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Eitan Cabel, both of whom have been promised ministerial posts by Peretz, came to his defense. Ben-Eliezer said that weakening Peretz's standing would be harmful for the party, and that it is the chairman's prerogative to choose his ministers. Cabel said that the party membership chose its ministers under the Sharon government, "but only because then-party leader Shimon Peres was a temporary leader, not a permanent one."
Peretz, who will be Defense Minister, has chosen Cabel as minister without portfolio who will be responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority; Ben-Eliezer as Infrastructures Minister; Yitzchak Herzog for Tourism; Yuli Tamir for Education; and Shalom Simchon for the Agriculture Ministry. In addition, he tapped Ophir Pines for the Ministry of Culture and Sport.
The anti-Peretz camp has threatened to split off from Labor if Peretz is allowed to choose the ministers. The rebels include Ayalon, Matan Vilnai, and Danny Yatom. Mitzna and Vilnai accused Pines of switching sides after being promised a ministerial post; Pines retorted that his popularity is such that he would have received a post under any system.
Ayalon accuses Peretz of undermining the party organs and leading the party away from its values. He even cast doubt upon Peretz's ability to serve as Defense Minister.
Another Labor MK, Ephraim Sneh, is waiting in the wings. A former Deputy Defense Minister, he is hoping to be named to this position once again, despite the decision not to have Deputy Ministers in the current government. He has said that it would be "unfair" to leave Peretz, whose background in security affairs is minimal, in the Defense Ministry by himself.
"My skills and background could be very useful if used as a deputy for Amir Peretz in the Defense Ministry," Sneh feels.
The vote on how to choose the Labor Party ministers will be held by secret ballot this afternoon at the Exhibition Grounds in Tel Aviv.
Peretz angered many in the party by leaving out newcomers Avishai Braverman and Ami Ayalon from his list of Cabinet ministers. Former party chairman Amram Mitzna, for instance, says that this is a form of deception, in that Peretz promised the voting public a "new politics," implying that the new faces would be in his Cabinet.
Peretz-apologists Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Eitan Cabel, both of whom have been promised ministerial posts by Peretz, came to his defense. Ben-Eliezer said that weakening Peretz's standing would be harmful for the party, and that it is the chairman's prerogative to choose his ministers. Cabel said that the party membership chose its ministers under the Sharon government, "but only because then-party leader Shimon Peres was a temporary leader, not a permanent one."
Peretz, who will be Defense Minister, has chosen Cabel as minister without portfolio who will be responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority; Ben-Eliezer as Infrastructures Minister; Yitzchak Herzog for Tourism; Yuli Tamir for Education; and Shalom Simchon for the Agriculture Ministry. In addition, he tapped Ophir Pines for the Ministry of Culture and Sport.
The anti-Peretz camp has threatened to split off from Labor if Peretz is allowed to choose the ministers. The rebels include Ayalon, Matan Vilnai, and Danny Yatom. Mitzna and Vilnai accused Pines of switching sides after being promised a ministerial post; Pines retorted that his popularity is such that he would have received a post under any system.
Ayalon accuses Peretz of undermining the party organs and leading the party away from its values. He even cast doubt upon Peretz's ability to serve as Defense Minister.
Another Labor MK, Ephraim Sneh, is waiting in the wings. A former Deputy Defense Minister, he is hoping to be named to this position once again, despite the decision not to have Deputy Ministers in the current government. He has said that it would be "unfair" to leave Peretz, whose background in security affairs is minimal, in the Defense Ministry by himself.
"My skills and background could be very useful if used as a deputy for Amir Peretz in the Defense Ministry," Sneh feels.
The vote on how to choose the Labor Party ministers will be held by secret ballot this afternoon at the Exhibition Grounds in Tel Aviv.