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Former Minister Avi Gabai

Former Minister Avi Gabai joins Labor Party

Gabai, who quit Netanyahu government in protest of Lieberman’s appointment as defense minister, says: ‘I have decided to embark on a journey to repair the State of Israel.’ Political sources believe he intends on running for Labor chairman.

Former Minister of Environmental Protection Avi Gabai announced Thursday that he was joining the Labor Party. Political sources believe he intends on running for party chairman.

 

 

Gabai, who had served as minister on behalf of Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu party and quit in protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to replace Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon with Avigdor Lieberman, wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday: “My experience in life has taught me that the best thing to do is to follow one’s simple, fundamental and real truth, and when one follow one’s truth, the work becomes brighter and the target becomes clearer. And the target, as I’ve already said, is to repair.

 

Gabai with Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog
Gabai with Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog

 

“Yes, I also know that the party is far from its glory days, but this is precisely the challenge, to help and reinforce the only party which I believe is a real alternative, not a synthetic alternative, to the Netanyahu government. This is the exact advantage of a party that had already forgotten what it means to be a ruling party.

 

“Today’s governmental culture is perhaps our biggest problem, and it requires a major repair that can only be carried out by whoever has not been there for a long time.”

 

Gabai, who had served as minister without being a Knesset member, further noted that “during my time as a government member, I realized that a politician with no political power of his own is usually like a good advisor and nothing more. That is why I have decided to embark on a journey to repair the State of Israel. With my unending desire and with your help, aid and support, I think it’s perfectly possible.”

 

‘Building an alternative to the Netanyahu government’

Opposition leader and Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog, who is also the current leader of the Labor Party, congratulated Gabai and said: “Your decision to join is important news, and I call on other good and decent people who want a change to join us and keep building and expanding the only alternative to the government.”

 

Former Labor leader, MK Shelly Yachimovich, wrote on her Facebook page: “You have made us very happy. You are an extremely worthy, talented and honest person. It’s good that you’re joining politics, and it’s even better that you’re coming to us. Welcome!”

 

Yachimovich called on the public to do what Gabai did and join the Labor Party. “If you join, you will be able to determine the identity of Labor’s Knesset members and who will be the party’s chairperson.”

 

Former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who has already announced his plan to run for party chairman, welcomed Gabai’s decision as well: “Avi Gabai, my friend, is a first-rate public figure with values, integrity and courage. Avi, your decision to join the Labor Party is a right and important move, and you will strengthen us in the battle to replace the government.”

 

MK Erel Margalit said, “I congratulate Avi Gabai for joining the Labor Party this morning. A man who instead of crawling into the Netanyahu government, knew how to leave the government and insist on his principles. This is the kind of people we need in the party.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.29.16, 15:58
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