Amram Mitzna is taking a heavy lead, at least in the polls, into tomorrow's Labor Party election for party leader and Prime Ministerial candidate. The incumbent Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who recently took his party out of the national unity government, thus leading to the collapse of the government and the scheduling of new national elections in January, is reported to be trailing significantly, and MK Chaim Ramon appears headed for last place. Supporters of Mitzna still say they hope that Ramon will back out at the last minute in order to guarantee Mitzna the 40% he requires in order not to have to face Ben-Eliezer in a run-off…
The Shas Party, already in trouble in light of polls that foresee a 50% drop in its electoral strength - it currently has 17 MKs - faces another danger: A new party-in-formation under the aegis of Rabbi Abuhatzeira, Ahavat Yisrael. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef met with two Shas MKs today in an attempt to persuade them not to bolt the party in favor of the fledgling competitor…
In the National Religious Party, leader Effie Eitam faces what may be his third consecutive defeat in efforts to determine the party's course. After his MKs rejected his plans to merge with the National Union and to guarantee certain persons slots on the Knesset list, they are now showing resistance to his desire to place a woman in the 5th slot on the Knesset list. Polls currently show the party dropping from five MKs to four.
The Shas Party, already in trouble in light of polls that foresee a 50% drop in its electoral strength - it currently has 17 MKs - faces another danger: A new party-in-formation under the aegis of Rabbi Abuhatzeira, Ahavat Yisrael. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef met with two Shas MKs today in an attempt to persuade them not to bolt the party in favor of the fledgling competitor…
In the National Religious Party, leader Effie Eitam faces what may be his third consecutive defeat in efforts to determine the party's course. After his MKs rejected his plans to merge with the National Union and to guarantee certain persons slots on the Knesset list, they are now showing resistance to his desire to place a woman in the 5th slot on the Knesset list. Polls currently show the party dropping from five MKs to four.