Peres’ brother slams Peretz's 'militias’
Gigi Peres: North African militias took over Labor. Party members blast vice premier; Peres associate: He won’t be staying in Labor
“Like General Franco, he recruited militias from North Africa,” Gigi Peres.
“It’s like crabs at sea that go into shells – you don’t know if it’s a snail or a crab,” Gigi said referring to the new Labor leader, charging that at first Peretz approached Peres and asked that they join forces against “fascist” former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
The scathing attack comes amid increasing signs that the longtime Labor member is on his way out of the party.
Responding to the comments, Labor’s Ophir Pines said “we are talking about remarks that smell of racism and have no place in the political system in general, and in the Labor party in particular.”
Pines called on Shimon Peres, “who for many years acted to open up the Labor party to numerous, diverse publics,” to strongly condemn his brother’s words.
As far as the senior Labor members are concerned, Peres’ departure from the party is already a done deal. Even before the veteran politician announced he is quitting, some of his colleagues are lashing out at him.
"He’s been getting a guaranteed a spot on the party's list without contending for the last 20 years," a source at Labor told Ynet on Monday. "This tradition should be over and done with. The position of party president he was offered is respectable enough. If he wants to go – let him go, we don't need any favors from him."
Labor members lashed at Peres not only for his demand for a guaranteed spot in the Knesset (a demand which Peres and his associates deny was ever made,) but also for what they say is his failure to contribute to recent peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
"In the 10 months Peres held a position in the government, he failed to promote even one subject related to the Palestinians. Therefore, the claim that his participation in peace talks is essential is irrelevant," a high ranking party member said.
"Peretz was smart not to make any promises to Peres," another member told Ynet. "Guaranteeing him a spot now will leave him in this position until he is 86 years-old. Does this make any sense?" he asked.
'Peres not coming back to Labor'
Meanwhile, other sources at the party said they were astounded by Peretz's refusal to secure a spot for Peres in the next Knesset, and claimed the old leader should have been granted a respectable spot on the list in order to persuade him to stay in the party and not “defect'” to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new faction, Kadima.
Meanwhile, Peres associate Shmulik Rifman claimed the vice premier is angry with Labor Chairman Peretz and the party's Director General, Knesset Member Eitan Cabel.
"I know what he's been through in the last few weeks. I know what he had to face after his defeat in the party primaries. After speaking with him on Monday I can say one thing for certain: He is not coming back to this party," Rifman said.
Rifman has himself already made the move from Labor to Sharon's Kadima party last week.
In the meantime, Peres is attending an international convention in Barcelona, where he is scheduled to attend a soccer match between the local all-star team and an Israeli-Palestinian team.
Peres is expected to announce his decision on his future moves after returning from Barcelona.
Ronny Sofer contributed to the story
