Barak: Labor is the answer

Labor Chairman Ehud Barak did not seem too disappointed by Minister Ami Ayalon's departure form the party, as he convened a party meeting on Sunday evening.  

"Ayalon's conduct over the past few days shames his past," said Barak, adding that "the move will hurt him more (than the party)."

Barak called the party meeting in order to introduce the potential candidates for the 18th Knesset. The roster is to include MKs Amir Peretz, Yoram Marciano, Leon Litinsky, Orit Noked, Ophir Pines-Paz, Nadia Hilou and Matan Vilnai.

Also present were some of Labor's new members, the likes of Daniel Ben Simon, Avi Shaked, Dana Oren and Yariv Oppenheimer.

"I don't want to mention other people who have left, but at the end of the day, Labor really is the answer and this team is the right one. Point by point, it is more experienced and it's better, more credible and more reliable than any other team presented by any other party," said Barak.

"I'm proud of this team, both of the members who are already serving as Knesset members and of our newcomers. Our party has strong core values and it is stronger than anyone who tries to belittle it."

As for the coming elections, Barak warned that "Labor is facing an uphill battle. This will be a complicated campaign, but we have the answers for all the challenges ahead: For security, for dealing with the impending financial crisis and for striking peace… We will be the leaders on all of these points, while maintaining law and order and (the public's) personal and social safety."

As for the newly formed left-wing movement, Barak said that "the new split in the Left isn't very conducive. Our strength is in the size of the Left bloc. The voters will have to ask themselves who better represents the Left's values. I say the answer is Labor."