Amir Peretz – campaign troubles
Photo: Israel Hadari
Labor in crisis? Campaign manager quits
Shmulik Cohen departs after two strategic advisors leave earlier; meanwhile, Labor officials declare 'cease-fire' over, ready to resume campaigning
Is the Labor party's campaign falling apart? Less than three months before the general elections and a week before the Labor primaries, another senior campaign official has announced he is leaving the party, as senior officials are increasingly concerned about apparent disorder in the campaign.
Campaign Manager Shmulik Cohen is the latest figure to leave, after strategic advisors Motti Morel and Ronen Zur already left the campaign.
Cohen apparently decided to quit following several unflattering news stories about him last week that described his financial and legal entanglements. The details aroused fury among several senior Labor figures who said the reports are undermining the party.
Following the comments, Cohen sent Labor party leader Amir Peretz a letter where he wrote that following the reports and in light of attempts to change the focus of the campaign from the difficult socioeconomic situations and the collapse of Israeli society, he was asking to be dismissed from the post.
Following the latest developments, Labor Party Secretary General Eitan Cabel said "time has come for reorganizing the party."
Meanwhile, senior Labor party officials announced the timeout in campaigning as a result of Prime Minsiter Ariel Sharon's condition is over.
"Kadima's people started dealing with political issues," a senior Labor official said Tuesday evening.
Labor officials also slammed Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmernt, saying the limbo over east Jerusalem residents voting in the upcoming Palestinian elections is boosting Hamas.
"Kadima is a bubble party," one labor official said. "They have no purpose without Sharon. There's nothing that unites them anymore. Tomorrow we'll start exposing their true face."
