Histadrut Labor Union chief Amir Peretz, head of the Am Echad party he founded in the mid-90's, is apparently returning to the Labor Party. Labor chairman Shimon Peres announced today the opening of official negotiations for such a move, adding that Labor was willing to pay a price for it.
A Knesset Member since 1988, Peretz resigned from Labor in early 1999 in order to found Am Echad. He explained today that it's time to "unite forces" in light of the economic and security situations. Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reported today that this is not a sudden change of heart on Peretz's part: "Ever since the last election, Peretz has been waiting for the right time to return, and his goal is to take over the leadership of the party in its next internal election, in June 2004."
Finkler explained that in neither Labor nor Am Echad is there great excitement over the idea. Peretz's fellow party MKs, Ilana Cohen and David Tal, do not share his political views; Cohen is a Likud-nik at heart, and Tal was a MK of Shas. Labor chief Peres, too, said that there are objections within his party to the merger.
A Knesset Member since 1988, Peretz resigned from Labor in early 1999 in order to found Am Echad. He explained today that it's time to "unite forces" in light of the economic and security situations. Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reported today that this is not a sudden change of heart on Peretz's part: "Ever since the last election, Peretz has been waiting for the right time to return, and his goal is to take over the leadership of the party in its next internal election, in June 2004."
Finkler explained that in neither Labor nor Am Echad is there great excitement over the idea. Peretz's fellow party MKs, Ilana Cohen and David Tal, do not share his political views; Cohen is a Likud-nik at heart, and Tal was a MK of Shas. Labor chief Peres, too, said that there are objections within his party to the merger.