The Labor Party Central Committee convened in the Cinerama building in Tel Aviv this afternoon for a stormy session on whether or not to join the Likud-led national-unity government. Outside the building, Labor party ushers used force to prevent young party members from protesting against the intention to join the unity government; police were called in to intervene. The young Laborites were infuriated at the party leadership for not letting them into the hall: \"We sacrificed ourselves in the intersections during the election campaign, but now they\'re not letting us in. This is how they disgrace us!\"
The latest positions in the Labor party, as expressed today:
Shimon Peres, addressing the Committee this afternoon, said that the nation is facing very difficult threats from Iraq and elsewhere, and \"This is also our country - shouldn\'t we have a say in these matters? … We must not be an elitist party! Listen to the voice of the public - including within our own party - which wants a unity government!\" He quoted passages from the unity-government guidelines showing that the Likud was in favor of territorial compromise and \"equal rights for minorities.\"
Avraham Burg said that he is now against a unity government, if the National Religious Party and the National Union are members. His father, the late Dr. Yosef Burg, headed the NRP for many years. MK Burg told the Committee today, \"In a normal situation, the party that loses must go home, re-organize, and prepare to offer an alternative the next time. But in this case, the public is facing a terrible problem, and for this reason - not for any other - would we consider joining a unity government… I am in favor of Labor going towards the center of the political map, but not in this type of right-wing unity government...\"
Chaim Ramon, who was booed inside the hall, said he is no longer against a unity government, but he himself will not serve as a minister. In a fiery speech, he said, \"We have long ceased to listen to the public - both in the diplomatic arena, and in the economic-social sphere. Do you think that the public was ready to uproot tens of thousands of settlers from their homes? It was not, but we didn\'t listen...\"
Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami spoke against joining the unity government, and said that if Labor joined the government, the party would fall apart. Peres dismissed this warning: \"Don’t threaten us - it won\'t fall apart.\"
Minister Yossi Beilin, a staunch objector to a unity government, addressed most of his remarks to his mentor Shimon Peres, and said, \"Don\'t do this to yourself, to us, or to Yitzchak Rabin.\"
Former Minister Moshe Shachal told the Committee, \"Did anyone ask if I agreed to divide Jerusalem? Did anyone ask if I agreed to give away the Jordan Valley? Did anyone ask if I was willing for the party to take positions way to the left of Meretz, without consulting the party membership?\"
The vote will take place later tonight.
The latest positions in the Labor party, as expressed today:
Shimon Peres, addressing the Committee this afternoon, said that the nation is facing very difficult threats from Iraq and elsewhere, and \"This is also our country - shouldn\'t we have a say in these matters? … We must not be an elitist party! Listen to the voice of the public - including within our own party - which wants a unity government!\" He quoted passages from the unity-government guidelines showing that the Likud was in favor of territorial compromise and \"equal rights for minorities.\"
Avraham Burg said that he is now against a unity government, if the National Religious Party and the National Union are members. His father, the late Dr. Yosef Burg, headed the NRP for many years. MK Burg told the Committee today, \"In a normal situation, the party that loses must go home, re-organize, and prepare to offer an alternative the next time. But in this case, the public is facing a terrible problem, and for this reason - not for any other - would we consider joining a unity government… I am in favor of Labor going towards the center of the political map, but not in this type of right-wing unity government...\"
Chaim Ramon, who was booed inside the hall, said he is no longer against a unity government, but he himself will not serve as a minister. In a fiery speech, he said, \"We have long ceased to listen to the public - both in the diplomatic arena, and in the economic-social sphere. Do you think that the public was ready to uproot tens of thousands of settlers from their homes? It was not, but we didn\'t listen...\"
Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami spoke against joining the unity government, and said that if Labor joined the government, the party would fall apart. Peres dismissed this warning: \"Don’t threaten us - it won\'t fall apart.\"
Minister Yossi Beilin, a staunch objector to a unity government, addressed most of his remarks to his mentor Shimon Peres, and said, \"Don\'t do this to yourself, to us, or to Yitzchak Rabin.\"
Former Minister Moshe Shachal told the Committee, \"Did anyone ask if I agreed to divide Jerusalem? Did anyone ask if I agreed to give away the Jordan Valley? Did anyone ask if I was willing for the party to take positions way to the left of Meretz, without consulting the party membership?\"
The vote will take place later tonight.