Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
MK Amir Peretz Wins Labor Party Leadership Race
Error: Contact form not found.
by JNS.org
Member of Knesset Amir Peretz, left, with a Holocaust survivor in 2014. Photo: Maxine Dovere.
JNS.org – Despite the lowest voter turnout in the history of Labor party primaries, Knesset member Amir Peretz was chosen Tuesday to lead the once-powerful faction as it gears up for elections in September.
Just 46 percent of Labor’s 65,000 members voted in the primaries, down from 59 percent in July 2017. Voting was extended by an hour due to Ethiopian-Israeli demonstrations going on throughout the country on Tuesday.
When results were tallied, Peretz came out on top with 47 percent or approximately 14,000 votes, followed by 26.9 percent for MK Stav Shaffir and 26.3 percent for MK Itzik Shmuli.
“This is a very exciting evening for me and I feel the weight of my responsibility,” Peretz said after his win was announced. “This evening should bring hope to the hearts of all peace-loving citizens. I thank all those who supported me and the other candidates, Itzik Shmuli and Stav Shaffir, who are an important part of the leadership of this party and the next generation.”
“My blessings to @amirperetz for being elected in the Labor party primaries,” Blue and White party head Benny Gantz said on Twitter. “I wish him good luck in his position. I spoke to him earlier and we agreed to meet sometime soon.”
“Amir, I congratulate you on being elected chairman of the Labor party and the new path you have set out on,” former prime minister and newly-announced candidate Ehud Barak said. “I believe that we can do what is necessary and stand together, together with other forces, in order to bring Israel back on track.”
Peretz served as defense minister Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
