Last update - 00:00 12/06/2007
Avital: Peres' aides using mafia tactics to make me quit election
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Presidential candidate Labor MK Colette Avital said late Monday Vice Premier Shimon Peres's aides threatened her saying they would destroy her political career if she doesn't pull out of the election, Israel Radio reported.
"They are using the methods of the mafia," she told Israel Radio.
Peres spokesman Yoram Dori said in response: "The position of President is a unifying one, and no-one in the vice premier's camp has the intention of being dragged into divisive debates that will hurt the office of the president even more."
Some of the vice premier's supporters have voiced concern that Avital's staying in the race will jeopardize Peres' chances by depriving him of Labor MK's much-needed votes.
Fearing unexpected complications, Peres and his aides will attempt to secure a majority victory in the first round of the presidential election Wednesday, sources close to the campaign said yesterday.
In talks with Knesset members, Peres and his aides have said that if he falls short of the 61 votes needed to avert a second-round runoff, the octogenerian's chances of winning may be compromised in favor of Likud candidate MK Reuven Rivlin.
According to Peres' aides, if Rivlin has a good showing in the first round of the election, the result may sway some of the undecided MKs in favor of the Likud candidate.
In spite of a generally positive mood in recent days, Peres and his aides are concerned that there may be surprises in store during the Knesset vote. Monday, Peres and his supporters spoke with Shas party chairman Eli Yishai and Communications Minister Ariel Attias, to ensure that the ultra-Orthodox party's promise that its 12 MKs would unanimously back Peres was still valid.
Sources close to Peres said Monday that they had heard rumors that Shas MKs would break ranks and vote for Rivlin.
Yishai and Attias sent calming messages and promised that Shas will not surprise them.
Monday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also hinted that a victory for Peres, whom he declared to be Kadima's candidate for the presidency, is by no means guaranteed.
In a meeting of Kadima MKs, Olmert asked for their continued work to ensure that Peres is elected.
"We have experience in political battles, and we know that nothing is self evident, and therefore we must take action and reach every voter and do everything possible so that on Wednesday the MKs will do what the people expect them to do - elect Shimon Peres as president," Olmert said.
Olmert described a Peres victory as a matter of "national importance for the State of Israel," emphasizing the need to elect the most worthy person for the highest post.
Peres and his aides will turn their lobbying efforts to the Arab parties and Yisrael Beiteinu.