Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that the Labor party would quit the Sharon government if he feels that the party can\'t advance its political or economic agenda. According to all estimates, Ben-Eliezer will win today\'s re-vote for Labor Party chairman and candidate for prime minister. The initial vote, which took place on September 4, was surrounded with controversy. Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg claimed victory over Ben-Eliezer in what appeared to be one of the closest internal party votes in the nation’s history. However, Ben-Eliezer’s camp alleged that forgeries in the voting took place at 41 polling stations throughout the Druze sector. In one voting station, there were more ballots cast than eligible voters. The Druze community that brought Burg the victory in the September 4th vote is boycotting today’s runoff. A short time before the close of the polling places, Labor officials report that less than 10% of eligible voters turned out to cast their ballot.
In a recent survey, Labor Party central committee members said that Prime Minister Sharon is more worthy to lead the country than Burg or Ben-Eliezer. The Labor members admitted that they longed to reconnect to nationalistic values of the early years of Labor and to distance themselves from today\'s \"extreme left.\"
In a recent survey, Labor Party central committee members said that Prime Minister Sharon is more worthy to lead the country than Burg or Ben-Eliezer. The Labor members admitted that they longed to reconnect to nationalistic values of the early years of Labor and to distance themselves from today\'s \"extreme left.\"