From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 6, 2024
Labor party announces the final slate of leadership candidates
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The Labor party announces the final slate of candidates ahead of its upcoming leadership primary later this month.
Running for the chairmanship of the once-dominant and now marginal party are former IDF deputy chief of staff Yair Golan, longtime Labor activist Azi Nagar, billionaire socialist and online gambling magnate Avi Shaked, and attorney and anti-corruption activist Itay Leshem.
Golan has pledged to merge Labor with Meretz and create a united left-wing front while Shaked has opposed such plans, calling the former major general in a recent media interview “a Trojan horse…who suddenly comes out of nowhere and tries to steal our party.”
The primary, which will choose a new leader to replace outgoing chair Merav Michaeli, will be held on May 28 and 13,500 new members have joined the party ahead of the vote, Labor announces.
“The elections for the leadership of the Labor Party this year are being held at a fateful time for the country,” Michaeli says in a statement.
“Everything we warned about has come true: The Netanyahu government and the messianic right are leading Israel to existential danger and the opposition is weaker than ever. This is a time for leaders, this is an opportunity for leadership. I undertake to assist whoever is elected and to stand by any party member who needs my advice or help. I wish the candidates success.”
