Ayalon: 158 people returned from war in box due to politics
Ami Ayalon, who is running for Labor Party leadership, joins attack on Amir Peretz for Majadele ministerial appointment: 'Whoever thinks he will obtain leadership through manipulation must know that this will be short-term leadership.' About State leaders he says, 'They don't know how to run army in order to win war'
One of the burning subjects in recent days was the appointment of Raleb Majadele as sports, culture, and technology minister. As such, Peretz has been the target of harsh criticism, both within and outside his party.
Monday, MK Ayalon also joined the ranks of his critics: "Because of the day's politics, a minister has been appointed in the most unfitting post so as not to threaten the prime minister or the party chairman. Because of this foolishness 158 people returned from the war in a box.
"Corruption came full circle with the appointment of Raleb Majadele. It’s about time that there is an Arab minister in the State of Israel, but not in such a process that isn't fitting and doesn't respect Raleb," he said.
It was made known Monday that Shakib Shanan, ranked number 20 on the Labor Party's list of Knesset candidates, submitted his candidacy to be a Labor Party minister. Shanan will run against Majadele.
The Labor Party is preparing for a secret ballot in the party center's meeting on Thursday in which party member will chose between the two.
Ayalon in Kibbutz Be'eri. (Photo: Amir Cohen)
Ayalon, like many others, thinks that the considerations behind Peretz's historic appointment weren't pure.
"Corruption is an existential threat. Personal-political considerations lead people to the place most unbefitting of them," said Ayalon. "Whoever thinks that he will reach a leadership position through such manipulations needs to know that this will be a short-term leadership.
"The issues on the agenda are so complex that there never was and never will be a person who can handle the Israeli reality alone," continued Ayalon.
Ayalon also responded to the threats on Finance Minsitry's Accountant General Yaron Zelicha's life, after which a personal body guard was assigned to him.
"We opened the newspaper this morning and we hear that the accountant general of the State of Israel is threatened and receives a personal body guard. Israeli police needs to thoroughly investigate all reports of life threats on those exposed to corruption and public officials.
"Whoever is pressing a gun to Zelicha's temple is pressing a gun against all of us," said Ayalon.
The State leadership, said Ayalon, has caused the public to reach an unprecedented level of distrust.
"We have reached a bad enough situation to roll our sleeves up and do things differently," he said. "People understand that the leadership today doesn't know how to run an army in order to win a war, and has forgotten that it is being tested on how to prevent war."
