Opposition Leader Shimon Peres, who turned 81 five days ago, says he will run once again for Prime Minister. This would be approximately his eighth bid for the high post in 27 years. He served as Prime Minister twice, in 1984-86 and 1995-1996.
Peres made the announcement at a press conference last night, following the Likud party's rejection of Prime Minister Sharon's quest to include Labor in the government. Peres said that the Likud vote is a signal for new elections, and that he will head his party's list.
"Our platform will be disengagement," Peres said. "The Likud talks about it, and we'll do it - and that will be just the beginning. We will implement the entire Road Map plan, without the settlement blocs [that Sharon says he will maintain]."
Many Labor MKs are not happy with Peres' declaration. Avraham Shochat said, "If he thinks he's the candidate, he's greatly mistaken," and Amram Mitzna, who headed Labor's list in the previous election, said that the majority of the Knesset is not interested in new elections.
Despite his call for new elections, Peres said that Labor's coalition negotiating team would not be disbanded. He said that if Prime Minister Sharon summons Labor to continue the talks, "we will discuss the proposal, and the majority will determine."
Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, who remains the only National Religious Party minister in the government after his colleague and party leader Effie Eitam resigned two months ago, called upon the NRP to return to the government in toto. "The best way to expand the government," Orlev said, "is for the two MKs of the NRP [Eitam and Yitzchak Levy] to return to the government and the coalition." Orlev added that if they do not, Prime Minister Sharon should include the hareidi parties. Minister Orlev said that the right-wing had brought down right-wing governments in the past, leading to the Rabin and Barak governments, respectively. The MKs involved have frequently responded to such charges by saying that in 1999, then-PM Binyamin Netanyahu himself decided to call new elections.
Peres made the announcement at a press conference last night, following the Likud party's rejection of Prime Minister Sharon's quest to include Labor in the government. Peres said that the Likud vote is a signal for new elections, and that he will head his party's list.
"Our platform will be disengagement," Peres said. "The Likud talks about it, and we'll do it - and that will be just the beginning. We will implement the entire Road Map plan, without the settlement blocs [that Sharon says he will maintain]."
Many Labor MKs are not happy with Peres' declaration. Avraham Shochat said, "If he thinks he's the candidate, he's greatly mistaken," and Amram Mitzna, who headed Labor's list in the previous election, said that the majority of the Knesset is not interested in new elections.
Despite his call for new elections, Peres said that Labor's coalition negotiating team would not be disbanded. He said that if Prime Minister Sharon summons Labor to continue the talks, "we will discuss the proposal, and the majority will determine."
Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, who remains the only National Religious Party minister in the government after his colleague and party leader Effie Eitam resigned two months ago, called upon the NRP to return to the government in toto. "The best way to expand the government," Orlev said, "is for the two MKs of the NRP [Eitam and Yitzchak Levy] to return to the government and the coalition." Orlev added that if they do not, Prime Minister Sharon should include the hareidi parties. Minister Orlev said that the right-wing had brought down right-wing governments in the past, leading to the Rabin and Barak governments, respectively. The MKs involved have frequently responded to such charges by saying that in 1999, then-PM Binyamin Netanyahu himself decided to call new elections.