The new makeup of Labor party members will significantly affect the outcome of the party's June 28 primary elections in which Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres is running against four opponents for party leadership.
Arab membership rose more to 22 percent of all registered members, 50 per cent more than the last membership drive three years ago. Arab parties now hold nine seats in the Knesset and have one seat in the Labor and Likud parties. They probably will receive more representation in Labor if the new membership list is ratified.
Another significant change in the Labor party makeup is the sharp decline of members from kibbutzim, the historical backbone of the Labor movement. Their percentage among Labor party members dropped from 16 to 10 per cent. Their actual numbers dropped to less than 10,000, reflecting a move by members to the nationalist National Union party and the left wing Meretz/Yahad party.
The candidates running against Peres for the Labor party leadership are : former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister without Portfolio Matan Vilnai, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Histadrut union leader Amir Peretz. Observers say that Ben-Eliezer will benefit mostly from the increased number of Arabs. He initiated signing up 14,000 new Arabs as party members.
Latest surveys of public opinion show that the Likud and Shinui parties would lose significant strength if national elections were to be held today. The National Union and Shas parties would increase in strength, along with a slight gain for the Mertez/Yahad party. The new makeup of the Labor party, however, may turn supporters away from Labor to the right.
Arab membership rose more to 22 percent of all registered members, 50 per cent more than the last membership drive three years ago. Arab parties now hold nine seats in the Knesset and have one seat in the Labor and Likud parties. They probably will receive more representation in Labor if the new membership list is ratified.
Another significant change in the Labor party makeup is the sharp decline of members from kibbutzim, the historical backbone of the Labor movement. Their percentage among Labor party members dropped from 16 to 10 per cent. Their actual numbers dropped to less than 10,000, reflecting a move by members to the nationalist National Union party and the left wing Meretz/Yahad party.
The candidates running against Peres for the Labor party leadership are : former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister without Portfolio Matan Vilnai, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Histadrut union leader Amir Peretz. Observers say that Ben-Eliezer will benefit mostly from the increased number of Arabs. He initiated signing up 14,000 new Arabs as party members.
Latest surveys of public opinion show that the Likud and Shinui parties would lose significant strength if national elections were to be held today. The National Union and Shas parties would increase in strength, along with a slight gain for the Mertez/Yahad party. The new makeup of the Labor party, however, may turn supporters away from Labor to the right.