Labor MK Pines-Paz retires from politics
Ophir Pines announces his resignation from Knesset after more than 13 years as lawmaker; criticizes Labor party, says 'I have no faction and no leader'
Knesset Member Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) held a press conference at the Knesset on Thursday afternoon to announce his decision to retire from politics. Pines recently said in closed forums, "I have an option outside," but did not elaborate.
During the press conference, Pines criticized the Labor party, saying it dropped from 44 seats in the Knesset of 1992 to only 13 in the last elections.
Pines added that the Labor party has betrayed its voters by joining an extreme right-wing government, and that those who "rebelled" against the party are those who actually still adhere to its original ways.
"If this is rebellion – than I am a proud rebel," said Pines, "I have no faction and no leader."
"When choosing between keeping my seat and keeping my values – I chose the latter. If I truly believed that by continuing to serve in the Knesset I would benefit the public, I would have stayed and continued to fight without compromise – as I have done throughout my years in the Knesset," he said.
When asked about the possibility of retiring from the party along with the other "rebels" to form a new faction, Pines told Ynet: "I do not want to get into the details. After careful consideration I have reached a conclusion that the alternative I was hoping for cannot be achieved in the particular way I envisioned. I will not elaborate beyond that at this point."
Pines may not be the last Labor lawmaker to retire. He may soon be joined by MK Prof. Yuli Tamir, who has received many offers in the academic field.
Pines met with Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin earlier Thursday, and held talks with Labor Chairman Ehud Barak's associates earlier this week. The Labor Party bureau is expected to convene after the press conference with all of the faction's ministers and MKs.
Pines will be replaced in the Knesset by Dr. Einat Wilf.
Ophir Pines was first elected to the Knesset in June 1996 and has served as an MK ever since. He served as interior minister in the Ariel Sharon government and as science, culture and sports minister for about half a year in the Ehud Olmert government.
Pines is one of the four Labor "rebels", together with MKs Yuli Tamir, Eitan Cabel and Amir Pines. The four have been trying to get a fifth MK to join them in order to split from the party and form a new faction.
Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog of Labor blamed party chairman Ehud Barak for Pines-Paz's resignation, while Minorities Minister Avishay Braverman said he was a "special person and an outstanding parliamentarian."
However, Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon called Pines-Paz made the right decision in light of his "inability to accept democratic decisions by the party's institutions."
Barak, for his part, told a Labor faction meeting in Tel Aviv, "Rumors of the Labor party's death are premature; it has a future. I respect Ophir and his contribution (to the Knesset and the party).
"Labor is stronger than the sum of its parts. We can all be replaced," he said.
Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni (Kadima) spoke with MK Pines-Paz (Labor) following his announcement and said that the day of his decision "would be remembered as the day the quality of politics was damaged.
"Your ethics and tenacity, even in the face of losing positions in a government, whose path is not similar to yours, speaks of how unique you are and is revered by the public," she said.
