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Ayalon. Goal is mergers
Photo: Yaron Brener

Ayalon says 'made a mistake playing political game'

Minister announces he is quitting Labor Party, will join effort to form new political party. 'I cannot go out to the public and convince people that Ehud Barak should be prime minister,' he says

Minister Ami Ayalon announced Sunday morning that he was leaving the Labor Party and would join an effort to establish a new political party.

 

"The mistakes I made stemmed from the acceptance of the rules of the political game. Part of the rules of the game are to distort messages in order to be elected, to fight only in closed rooms so that they know we are shooting inside the armored personnel vehicle," he said in a press conference.

 

"I prefer to say what I have to say. I don’t distort messages. I have a very clear war. I don't change my way. I'm ready to change frameworks, as long as the way is the way I believe in. I will not run in the Labor primaries and I won't be a Knesset member on behalf of this party."


Ayalon at press conference (Photo: Yaron Brener) 

 

"I'm not afraid of battles, but I want my battles to be worthy. A worthy battle is a battle promoting a diplomatic process, promoting a social agenda, defending the rule of law.

 

"I have reached a situation in which I cannot even convince those closest to me to vote for the Labor Party. Labor has lost its way. I can't go out today not to my friends in the primaries, and not to the wide public, and convince them that this is the way and that Ehud Barak should be prime minister.

 

"Ehud Barak is not Labor's problem. The problem is much deeper. But Barak was meant to be the solution. For a year and a half he made it clear to me, and to many others in the party, that he is not the solution as well," Ayalon added, explaining what kind of leadership he aspires to.

 

"A leadership that knows how to consult and listen to conflicting opinions, a modest leadership, with a modest lifestyle, which doesn't use the language of aggression and fear."

 

Won’t resign from Knesset

As for the road he plans to take, Ayalon said, "In the coming days I will join an effort to establish a new political party. My goal is mergers. I won't walk alone. I'll bring people from home, rather than drag Labor or Kadima voters.

 

"The goal is renewal through mergers, which is what different politics is all about. The goal is to bring to the polling stations people who have no one to vote for today," he said.

 

Ayalon denied holding talks with Kadima and meeting with Chairwoman Tzipi Livni. As for reports that he plans to join Meretz, he said, "I did not demand from (Chairman) Chaim Oron to be No. 1 on the roster and did not ask for a survey."

 

He stated that he has no plans to resign from the Knesset or from the government, where he wishes to complete what he began in terms of civil service, which he defines as "a historic move".

 

Ayalon was asked by Ynet, "Do you believe you understand Israeli politics and this profession." He replied, "Time will tell. I'm doing it my way and I believe my way will have an effect… My people expect me to work, and they don't understand why it's taking so long.

 

"I discovered that Labor was not an alternative when the people closest to me told me, 'Father, don't embarrass us and don’t ask us to vote Labor, despite your way. This made me realize that Labor has lost its way."

 

In response to Ayalon's remarks, the Labor Party said in a statement, "Ami Ayalon the military man would be ashamed of and denounce the conduct of Ami Ayalon the politician. The person who pretended to lead a moral line of values has turned into an indefatigable 'zigzagger' and an opportunist.

 

"The Labor Party is a deep-rooted and ideological movement and has the power to continue serving as a leading element in the State's leadership. Ayalon's departure can only benefit the party and allow it to refresh its ranks."

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.16.08, 10:12
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