Labor decides to back Knesset dissolution
Party members adopt Chairman Barak's position, say will back motions calling for Knesset's dissolution during Wednesday's vote
Labor adopted Monday afternoon the position of Chairman Ehud Barak according to which the party would vote this coming Wednesday in favor of the motions calling for the Knesset's dissolution.
The decision was supported by all of Labor Knesset members present at the faction's meeting. The five members not present at the vote were Education Minister Yuli Tamir, Science, Culture and Sport Minister Raleb Majadele and MKs Amir Peretz, Yoram Marciano and Nadia Hilou.
Earlier Barak said during the meeting that if Shas decides to reverse its decision to vote in favor of the Knesset dissolution motions, Labor will have to reconsider its own stance.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Labor ministers Sunday that he will be forced to dismiss them should they vote in favor of theIsraeli parliament’s dissolution.
Senior Shas officials said on Sunday that no progress was made in the discussions between the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office regarding their demand to increase Child Welfare Payments.
According to the officials, Shas will vote in favor of a parliamentary dissolution bill if the issue will not be settled.
Following Olmert’s threats on Sunday to discharge them, sources close to Barak said, “We took this possibility into account. If the Labor ministers are blamelessly discharged, it is Ehud Olmert’s problem not anyone else’s.
These sources continued, saying “Barak has not altered his stance. The problem is not with the Labor, but Olmert’s and Kadima’s. If the prime minister dismisses ministers, we will have elections, who cares?
However, there are Knesset Members from the Labor Party who opposed the Knesset’s dissolution. MK Yoram Marciano warned against an inter-party division. “Barak turned the Labor Party into his own private business. It can’t be that he is the sole decision-maker in such a significant and fateful vote. Barak has done everything in his power to cause a party split.”
