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Israeli Labor Party Members Vote for New Leader
Israel's Labor Party voted for a new leader Tuesday in a close race that pitted tough-talking Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer against moderate Parliament Speaker Avraham Burg and could affect the stability of the Israeli government.
The winner could lead Labor, which was trounced at the ballot box this year, into general elections in 2003 as the party's candidate for prime minister. However, there is speculation in the party that more experienced figures might mount a challenge to replace Tuesday's victor before that vote.
About 117,000 Labor members are eligible to vote. Polls opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and results were expected around midnight.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres temporarily took over as party leader and negotiated the terms of Israel's participation in the Sharon government.
More than 11 months of Palestinian-Israeli fighting have cut sharply into Labor's support, according to polls, because Barak and his party backed what many Israelis consider to be far-reaching compromises for peace with the Palestinians, only to see violence erupt. Many Israelis believe Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat orchestrated the violence to squeeze more concessions from Israel.
Surveys indicate that because of the violence, Israelis back a harder line toward the Palestinians. Some even criticize Sharon, a veteran hawk, for not taking firmer action to try to stop Palestinian attacks.
At the same time, there is also strong public backing for a unilateral pullout from most of the disputed areas ¡ª which Sharon opposes and many in Israel's dovish camp support.
Some in Labor continue to push for peace talks with the Palestinians despite the fighting, but most go along with Sharon's demand that first, all violence must stop.
Both candidates say they would appoint Peres, 78, as honorary president of the Labor party.
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