Barak: Labor should unite around Peres

Former prime minister says party would be strongest if it united behind one man, offers to drop out of race; Netanyahu must not be prime minister, Barak says

Reuters | Published: 08.30.05, 20:09

Former prime minister Ehud Barak has called on his party to back Shimon Peres, urging other candidates in the upcoming Labor primaries to drop out of the race and back the Labor leader. Barak said that if the entire party backed Peres and there would be no other candidates, he would himself drop out of the race.

In an interview with Channel 10’s London and Kirshenbaum political news program, Barak said that “Shimon Peres is far more preferable than Sharon and Netanyahu, and if the party gathers around Peres, it can rebuild a national leadership."

“I’m convinced that we must rally around one man. I’d prefer that it would be me, but I don’t know if it’s possible, and I’m prepared for it to be Shimon Peres. We must not pass up the opportunity that has presented itself before us, and we must not allow Netanyahu to be the next prime minister.”

A Peres - Barak deal?

The Labor party has been shaken by claims of vote frauds and irregularities in recent weeks, and a specially committee headed by former judge Sara Parish investigated the allegations.

Her committee concluded that no foul play was involved, but Barak rejected the findings and demanded that the committee renew its investigation.

Three weeks ago, Ynet exposed a meeting between Peres and Barak in which the two explored the possibility of reaching an arrangement whereby Peres would run for prime minister, an arrangement which seems to be taking effect with Barak's recent announcement.