Beilin: Labor lost its historical role

Labor Party's decision to stay in government triggers reactions from all sides of political map. Coalition chairman reacts positively, but Likud attacks Labor for abandoning ideology. MK Yatom: Labor lost its way

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 10.30.06 , 00:50

The results of the vote in the Labor Party's central committee Sunday keeping them inside the coalition and the government has triggered many reactions from all sides of the political map in Israel as well as from within the party, who was sharply split between keeping themselves a part of the Olmert government and departing to the benches of the opposition.

Crucial Decision

Labor Party votes to stay in coaltion

Attila Somfalvi

Party's Central Committee members vote in favor of staying in government with Lieberman. Before voting Peretz says, 'Stop talking about fraud and betrayal.' MK Ayalon explains that staying in government is lesser of two evils

Labor Party: We'll stay in coaltion

Meretz Chairman MK Yossi Beilin said in reaction to the decision that the Labor Party has effectively ended their historical role. "The vote has proven once again that the party has taken upon themselves to be a leadership party at any cost, even at the cost of betraying the promise they gave to their voters," he said.

Coalition Chairman MK Avigdor Yitzhaki (Kadima) said that Labor had made the right decision for Israel when it decided to stay in the government despite the entry of Israel Our Home to the coalition.

Sources within the Likud party addressed Amir Peretz's speech, saying that "the day when Labor loses all of its principles, it also loses it's 'emet' (meaning truth, also used as Labor's voting emblem).

The sources added that "Peretz should get his facts straight before talking about cutbacks to health basket, Netanyahu increased the basket by NIS 440 million (USD 102,611,940) between 2003-2005, despite the economic crisis."

Those opposed to the move from within the Labor Party also voiced their discontent from the results of the vote and their concerns from sitting in the same coalition as Lieberman and Israel Our Home.

MKs Danny Yatom, Avishay Braverman, Shelly Yacimovich, all said harsh words about the prospects of having to defend decisions in government based on Lieberman's right-wing ideology and pointed out the turn the party has taken from their social ideology.

MK Yatom said he will not split from the party in order to keep it from splitting up. MK Braverman criticized Peretz for his lack of leadership and warned that if a move is not done immediately Labor will "turn into a marginal party. We must say Niet to Ivette," he said. MK Yekimovich said she was disappointed from the decision but despite the vote she will be fighting continuously for the true way of the party.

'A leader has to take harsh decisions'

The only minister who actually threatened with action is Minister Ophir Pines-Paz who is expected to resign his post. His decision is due on Monday.

During his speech before the committee Pines called on the party members to oppose the decision and said "the vote tonight is one of the most important and critical in the history of the Labor Party. This is my home, but it is being dismantled before my eyes because of lack of credibility, deals, zigzagging and lack of leadership. If you say "no" to Lieberman, he will remain outside, and the Labor Party will remain united in the coalition and in the government."

National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer spoke with Minister Pines-Paz and tried to dissuade him from resigning. According to him, it is acceptable to disagree, but once a decision is made, it is obligatory to everyone.

Ben-Eliezer was also one of those who was in favor of the decision to stay in the government and said that "a leader has to take harsh decisions. They are not always nice, and not always popular. If you believe this is the way, stick to it and don't give up." In reaction, the crowd stood on their feet and cheered his words.

At the outset of the meeting, members of the Labor's Young Guard, who supported leaving the government caused a ruckus yelling slogans such as "yes to values, no to seats," and delayed the opening of the meeting.