Oops! Britney concert bumps back Labor primaries

Party officials are worried about traffic caused by Spears’s Tel Aviv concert in July, though Herzog not planning to attend

By Jacob Magid

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

and Raoul Wootliff 5 April 2017, 12:21 pm Edit

Despite a contested primary featuring no fewer than eight candidates, the Labor party found itself unable to compete with Britney Spears taking an Israeli stage for the first time, announcing Wednesday that it would push back its leadership vote by a day.

Ballots for party chairperson were set to be cast in Tel Aviv on July 3, the same day that Spears is slated to perform in Hayarkon Park.

Fearing the heavy traffic likely to congest that part of the city, the party’s elections committee decided to move the primaries to July 4.

A Labor Party spokesperson told The Times of Israel that the decision would “make it easier for people to reach polling stations.”

He added that there had also been “a difficulty in recruiting security guards” for the originally scheduled day.

(L-R) Shay Mor Yosef, producer Udi Applebaum and Guy Basar at a press conference in Tel Aviv, officially announcing the upcoming Britney Spears concert, which will be held in Tel Aviv in July. March 28, 2017. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Balloting stations are now scheduled to open the following day at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

Those who have so far announced that they will run against current party chair Isaac Herzog are former high-tech entrepreneur MK Erel Margalit, former party leader MK Amir Peretz, former environmental protection minister Avi Gabbay, MK Eitan Cabel, former head of the elite IDF unit Sayeret Matkal MK Omer Barlev, activist-journalist Eldad Yaniv and retired general Yom Tov Samia.

Candidates have until April 27 to submit their candidacy.

If no candidate passes the 40 percent threshold, a second-round vote will be held on July 13.

Asked if Herzog would be using the extra day to bop along to the princess of pop, his spokesman said he was unaware of plans for the incumbent Labor leader to attend.