Knesset Member Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) reacted to the primary elections in the Labor party with a harsh analysis of the nature of that political party.
"Labor has become a militaristic party with a fascist atmosphere about it. I know of no political party in the Western world in which most of its leaders in the last decade have been generals, and in which the primaries were led by a general and an admiral who collected around them support groups of generals, colonels and retired heads of the
"Most of its leaders in the last decade have been generals." - MK Shteinitz on the Labor party
secret services," MK Shteinitz said.
"It is sad to see that the intellectual and media leaders in Israel simply ignore all such uncomfortable phenomena," Shteinitz added.
In the Labor party primaries, the results of which were published Tuesday morning, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak won 35.6% of the vote, followed by Ami Ayalon with 30.6%. According to internal party election rules, Barak and Ayalon are to take part in a second-round run-off election in two weeks time because no candidate managed to win 40% of the vote.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz came in third in the Labor primaries with 22.4% of the vote and Danny Yatom closed the list, with 2.7%.
Campaign organizers for Barak and Ayalon have begun preparations for the second round of voting. As of now, it appears that Defense Minister Peretz will throw his support behind Ayalon, in light of Peretz's earlier harsh criticisms of Barak. Sources close to the Defense Minister, however, insist that he will support any candidate who will focus on socioeconomic issues.
Similar sentiments were voiced by MK Yoram Marciano, chairman of the Labor party's Knesset faction. "We will go with whoever will continue to stand for the socioeconomic issues that the Labor party made promises about in the last [national] elections," Marciano declared.
Meanwhile, MK Yuli Edelstein of the Likud expressed a willingness to work with the Labor party if its next leader takes steps to break up the current government. According to Edelstein, the fact that Peretz was rejected is an indication that Labor voters want their representatives to quit the coalition.
"Barak and Ayalon must avoid deals over jobs in the current government just to earn the support of Peretz," MK Edelstein said. "The Likud will be happy to collaborate with either of them who will choose to bring down the government. We will welcome the elected chairman, with his 19 seats, into the open arms of the oppostition."
"Labor has become a militaristic party with a fascist atmosphere about it. I know of no political party in the Western world in which most of its leaders in the last decade have been generals, and in which the primaries were led by a general and an admiral who collected around them support groups of generals, colonels and retired heads of the
"Most of its leaders in the last decade have been generals." - MK Shteinitz on the Labor party
secret services," MK Shteinitz said. "It is sad to see that the intellectual and media leaders in Israel simply ignore all such uncomfortable phenomena," Shteinitz added.
In the Labor party primaries, the results of which were published Tuesday morning, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak won 35.6% of the vote, followed by Ami Ayalon with 30.6%. According to internal party election rules, Barak and Ayalon are to take part in a second-round run-off election in two weeks time because no candidate managed to win 40% of the vote.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz came in third in the Labor primaries with 22.4% of the vote and Danny Yatom closed the list, with 2.7%.
Campaign organizers for Barak and Ayalon have begun preparations for the second round of voting. As of now, it appears that Defense Minister Peretz will throw his support behind Ayalon, in light of Peretz's earlier harsh criticisms of Barak. Sources close to the Defense Minister, however, insist that he will support any candidate who will focus on socioeconomic issues.
Similar sentiments were voiced by MK Yoram Marciano, chairman of the Labor party's Knesset faction. "We will go with whoever will continue to stand for the socioeconomic issues that the Labor party made promises about in the last [national] elections," Marciano declared.
Meanwhile, MK Yuli Edelstein of the Likud expressed a willingness to work with the Labor party if its next leader takes steps to break up the current government. According to Edelstein, the fact that Peretz was rejected is an indication that Labor voters want their representatives to quit the coalition.
"Barak and Ayalon must avoid deals over jobs in the current government just to earn the support of Peretz," MK Edelstein said. "The Likud will be happy to collaborate with either of them who will choose to bring down the government. We will welcome the elected chairman, with his 19 seats, into the open arms of the oppostition."