IsraelNationalNews.com Outgoing Justice Minister Yossi Beilin this morning announced his candidacy for temporary Labor Party chairman. He will not run against Shimon Peres, however, in the event that Peres decides to run for the post. Beilin\'s staffers say that many party leaders have agreed to support him, including Chaim Ramon and Avraham Burg.
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh parted from his office staff today in Tel Aviv. He had hoped to graduate to Defense Minister, but will suffice with Transportation Minister instead. In his parting speech to his workers, Sneh said, \"The Defense Ministry and incoming Minister Ben-Eliezer can expect a difficult period ahead.\" He listed the difficult events of his 20 months in office, among them the new intifada, the end of the Israeli war in Lebanon, and the establishment of a new northern border. One of his office\'s accomplishments, Sneh said, was the 10% increase in exports of military equipment: \"Without a thriving defense industry, we will not be able to win in war, if it occurs.\"
Minister Ben-Ami also parted from his Foreign Ministry staff today, saying that Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon should be given a chance. Ben-Ami, a staunch opponent of the national-unity government, said, \"We must hope that it succeeds in giving the People of Israel what it needs - security and stability. At the end of the road, there will have to be a diplomatic breakthrough, and I believe that it will be along the lines that we [the Barak-government\'s negotiators] spoke about.\" Ben-Ami said that the Palestinians must stop thinking that they will reach an agreement that will \"leave the last of the refugees in Lebanon jumping for joy.\"
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh parted from his office staff today in Tel Aviv. He had hoped to graduate to Defense Minister, but will suffice with Transportation Minister instead. In his parting speech to his workers, Sneh said, \"The Defense Ministry and incoming Minister Ben-Eliezer can expect a difficult period ahead.\" He listed the difficult events of his 20 months in office, among them the new intifada, the end of the Israeli war in Lebanon, and the establishment of a new northern border. One of his office\'s accomplishments, Sneh said, was the 10% increase in exports of military equipment: \"Without a thriving defense industry, we will not be able to win in war, if it occurs.\"
Minister Ben-Ami also parted from his Foreign Ministry staff today, saying that Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon should be given a chance. Ben-Ami, a staunch opponent of the national-unity government, said, \"We must hope that it succeeds in giving the People of Israel what it needs - security and stability. At the end of the road, there will have to be a diplomatic breakthrough, and I believe that it will be along the lines that we [the Barak-government\'s negotiators] spoke about.\" Ben-Ami said that the Palestinians must stop thinking that they will reach an agreement that will \"leave the last of the refugees in Lebanon jumping for joy.\"