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Barak: I'm not worried about being removed before elections
By Yossi Verter and Mazal Mualem
Tags: elections, Labor Party 

Labor Party chief and defense minister Ehud Barak told several party veterans Thursday that he is not worried about being removed or replaced before the next Knesset elections. Barak told senior party members in a series of phone calls that the Labor Party does not remove its leaders.

Nonetheless, Barak admitted that the party is going through tough times after opinion polls forecast a big defeat if general elections were held today.

He urged his colleagues to exercise self-control, calm and confidence, and assured them that when the campaign actually begins, Labor's position will improve.
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In a campaign, Barak explained, people ask themselves who is really capable of leading and making decisions, and they will know who to choose.

Barak called party members after the publication Thursday of a Haaretz-Dialog poll in which Labor tumbled to 12 Knesset seats against a Tzipi Livni-led Kadima and 13 seats against a Kadima headed by Shaul Mofaz. The poll was conducted Tuesday in the throes of public reaction to news concerning deals involving a consulting company owned by Barak's wife, Nili Priel-Barak.

Barak and his aides believe this affair contributed to the survey's harsh results, as did Barak's recent attack on Foreign Minister Livni, who is contending for the leadership of rival party Kadima.

"The public will wake up only when elections are concrete," Barak said. "Only then will people understand that they must make a critical decision, and then the real race will begin."

Barak admitted that he is paying a price for his decision to remain in the government and avoid early elections after the Winograd Report on the government's management of the Second Lebanon War. However, he emphasized he is satisfied with that decision.

Barak reminded his colleagues of past instances of parties and candidates whose fates have changed drastically, such as Likud's recovery from 12 seats to a projected 30 now. He mentioned Hillary Clinton, the front-runner early in the U.S. Democratic primary race against Illinois Senator Barack Obama, and his own 1999 landslide victory over incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also mentioned his victory in the Labor primary last year against Ami Ayalon and Amir Peretz.

A party member said yesterday that "Barak cannot be replaced and there is no one who can run against him in the party right now."

Despite Barak's inability to become a serious contender for prime minister and dropping approval ratings, there is almost no substantial opposition to Barak in the party. Neither Peretz nor Ayalon are able to create an alternative. In addition, the party's central committee would have to approve constitutional changes to depose Barak and his supporters control the committee.

Labor players said there is no doubt these are Barak's dark days, adding that revelations regarding Priel's company certainly damaged and embarrassed him. Barak supporters alleged that "someone organized a smear campaign against Barak in the press because of his efforts to maintain the rule of law."

Related articles:
  • Barak's sinking ship
  • HBarak: Kadima can't lead Israel - it can't even decide when to hold primaries
  • Barak's last stand


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