Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 09, 2008 Cheshvan 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:31 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

All's forgiven as Barak, Peretz embrace as Knesset campaign begins By Roni Singer-Heruti The Labor Party fired the opening salvo of its election campaign at the party's convention yesterday in Tel Aviv, with party chairman Ehud Barak attacking both Likud and Kadima. "The way of Likud and Bibi [Netanyahu] at its head is the way of the extreme right. Even if its newest members are people of honesty and integrity, they represent a road that is disconnected from reality, which brought us into conflict with the free world and the entire region." Barak also said of Netanyahu, "Who will deal with the economic storm? Bibi Netanyahu? Don't you remember the reforms, and what he did to the poor? Bibi is dressing up like Santa Claus." With regard to Kadima, Barak said: "It's impossible to know where they will stand when the time comes for the real test...we ask who will lead to peace and we look toward Kadima and you ask, to whom will you give your vote?" Advertisement Barak's speech was a carefully crafted campaign address. At the end of each sentence he reiterated his party's election slogan, "Now is the time for Labor," as the party song was playing in the background. Party chairman Amir Peretz, who spoke after Barak, swept up most of the audience at Tel Aviv University's Smolarsh Hall with his words of reconciliation aimed at his former adversary in the party, Barak, who took over the defense portfolio from Peretz following the Second Lebanon War. "The past between us is not glorious. I may have made mistakes, you may have made mistakes. But now we are in the same hall, in the same party, and this must be over and done with. We have no more leeway for mistakes." Peretz pledged his cooperation and after his remarks the two men embraced on the platform. The convention opened yesterday with a ceremony commemorating prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, but the most significant part of the evening came later, after the speeches, when members voted on the party's Knesset list. Labor's Knesset faction members decided Wednesday night to approve Barak's request that the list include a number of reserved slots: sixth place is to be held for Housing and Construction Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, seventh place went to party secretary general Eitan Cabel, 12th to a representative of the moshavim and 13th for the kibbutzim. Places 5, 9, 14 and 19 are reserved for women. Labor's young guard protested the reserved slots, circulating a petition, which many members signed, demanding a secret ballot on the list. However, the party tribunal rejected the demand and the vote remained open. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Expecting change Hamas leader Meshal says Obama has no choice but to talk to group. Kosher Kiwi New Zealand elects a Jewish and conservative Prime Minister.

Read & React Iran's Ahmadinejad offers congratulations to Obama Responses: 222 IDF troops film themselves humiliating bound Palestinian Responses: 298 Israel and PA to continue talks with Obama's help Responses: 56 Vatican: Jewish charges against Nazi-era pope 'outrageous' Responses: 88 Jonathan Spyer: Israel has chronic myopia when it comes to Syria Responses: 39 More Headlines 01:49 Haniyeh: Hamas would accept state under 1967 borders 22:44 IDF: Air strike destroys rocket launcher in northern Gaza 02:04 At Rabin memorial, Barak calls right-wing extremists 'cancerous growths' 18:04 Saudi king musn't shake Peres' hand at interfaith meet, pan-Arab newspaper editor says 01:48 Gideon Levy / Let's hope Obama won't be a 'friend of Israel' 02:03 Jewish and conservative, New Zealand's elected PM promises change 02:31 Settlers deny Palestinian claim Hebron boy, 6, beaten with rock 23:41 Rice visits Jenin to tout PA success in combating terrorism 18:38 Report: Belgian far-right leader resigns over Holocaust song 18:15 Hamas deputy blames Abbas for breakdown in Palestinian reconciliation talks 18:42 Protest boat carrying European MPs arrives in Gaza Strip 20:43 Twenty hurt as bus full of Croatian tourists hits tunnel entrance in Haifa 14:53 IDF mistakenly shoots Thai migrant worker on northern border 17:39 Report: Auschwitz blueprints found in Berlin apartment Previous Editions Select Day 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct

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