While Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are trying to soothe the tensions that erupted between them and steer the coalition smoothly, behind the Labor chairman’s back members of his party are consolidating a front against him.
A group of five Knesset members, Ami Ayalon, Avishai Braverman, Danny Yatom, Colette Avital and Matan Vilnai, met Thursday at Avital’s Tel Aviv home to discuss potential cooperation against Peretz and his supporters. Or in other words, for the first time since elections, a real group of “rebels” has taken on Peretz’ position as chairman of the Labor party.
The group’s establishment was only a matter of time, in light of the fact that even after the coalition was set up, Matan Vilnai, Danny Yatom and Avishai Braverman came out publicly against Peretz’ leadership.
In the meantime, it appears that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak is stirring up trouble too. Just a few days ago he met with Vilnai, and it appears that very quietly, he has been working behind the scenes to trip up Peretz.
Towards a Peretz ouster?
At the end of Thursday’s meeting, which was apparently the first of its kind, MK Ami Ayalon told Ynet, “The main thing is that there is a group of members who are very concerned with what is happening in the party lately. And we represent many more party members. The concern was evident in a survey I saw recently on the public’s faith in the party since it joined the coalition. This was not a one-time meeting. This is just the beginning, and I’m guessing we will meet at a very high frequency.”
MK Ayalon explained that the group expected to meet next week before the party faction meeting to discuss the dismissal of the party’s legal advisor Eldad Yaniv. Likewise the group would begin activities towards the ouster of Amir Peretz from the position of party chairman.
"We want to return the party to the public, give it back its respectability,” Ayalon said. “In the last two months it completely lost its credibility and we want to change its direction.”
MK Danny Yatom told Ynet, “We feel dissatisfied with the way the party is being managed and the way the voter perceives us.”
“Rebel is a derogatory term. In democracy, as soon as you have another opinion, you’re considered a rebel, and if you don’t have another opinion, you’re a fool. So what are your options?” Yatom added.
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