Ami Ayalon said to be leaving Meimad
Senior political sources tell Ynet resigning Labor minister, Meimad MK Melchior have reached conclusion cooperation between them not working
Senior political sources told Ynet on Saturday that Ayalon and Knesset Member Michael Melchior, who headed the movement in the past, have reached the conclusion that the cooperation between them was not working, leading to Ayalon's departure.
Ayalon quit the Labor Party several weeks ago. Before joining Meimad, Ayalon also held talks with Meretz. It is unclear if he still plans to run for Knesset and with which party.
Only last month, at a Meimad council meeting in Jerusalem, he said that "the surprising combination between me and Rabbi Michael Melchior is the most surprising one in the Israeli society – an admiral, a Shin Bet chief, and an Orthodox rabbi, a frequent visitor to the pope and Muslim sheikhs and the bearer of the sane Israel flag. If this combination can exist, there is hope for the Israeli society."
On Wednesday, Labor Secretary-General Eitan Cabel sent Ayalon a letter asking him to give up his appointment since he was made minister without portfolio as part of a coalition deal between Kadima and Labor, and leaving the Labor party meant the deal was off.
"As someone who pretended to be guided by morals and values, it is only fitting that you treat the public and members of your former party in the same manner," Cabel said in the letter.
An associate of Ayalon said in response to the letter "if (Labor Chairman Ehud) Barak wants to offer the position (minister without portfolio) to one of his associates, and thus give up on the issues Ayalon had been dealing with in the government, he is welcome to do so."
