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Outcome of the Labor primaries / A nice list, looking toward the opposition By Yossi Verter Tags: Ehud Barak, Labor primaries  One does not have to be endowed with particularly sharp political acumen to notice the change in tone of the Labor Party's leadership. Suddenly Ehud Barak, Isaac Herzog and Benjamin Ben-Eliezer can utter the word "opposition," without choking. This is part of an electioneering tactic, the beginning of the "save the home" campaign designed to bring back voters that are tending to bolt to the new left party. The logic is simple: Kadima has already siphoned off Labor voters. The main threat now is from the left, and the way to avoid more slippage is by stating resolutely: We will not be part of a [Benjamin] Netanyahu government. We will go to the opposition and from there we will build up a new Labor Party. But please, give us enough votes so there will be something to rehabilitate. Meanwhile, this is just a different melody; it is not an election promise. Barak is not slamming any doors. He would prefer to leave a narrow crack, in case circumstances change. Early Friday morning, with the results in, Labor's voters could be seen to have chosen a kind of still-life of what had been. The top places - except for former journalist Daniel Ben-Simon, in 11th place, and Dr. Einat Wilf in 14th place, not likely to get into the Knesset - are the same faces; some had moved up the list, some down. Advertisement The most prominent switch was between Shelly Yachimovich and Amir Peretz. He closed the top 10, she was in slot five. From now on, Yachimovich is not only the top-ranking woman in Labor, she is also the leader of the party's social agenda, two and a half years after she was brought in by her patron at the time, Peretz. All in all, it is a nice list. Not revolutionary, not subversive, not too conservative. The voters wanted a young leadership, and therefore they chose Herzog, Ophir Pines-Paz and Yachimovich. They wanted an important economist, so they voted Avishay Braverman. They wanted experienced ministers and so they retained Ben-Eliezer, Matan Vilnai, and Yuli Tamir, together with Shalom Simhon. That's about it. Herzog maintained first place for the second time in a row, after the chairman - a significant achievement that no one had managed before. At the next primary for party leader he will not make do with supporting a candidate. He will be a candidate. "I'm not a nice child any longer," he says. All in all, it was a good week for Labor. The smooth evacuation of the House of Contention in Hebron is chalked up to Barak. As party chairman he is problematic, but as defense minister he delivered the goods. The self-critical campaign, emphasizing damage control, which Labor launched over the weekend is interesting. Labor's secretary-general MK Eitan Cabel also deserves a good word: After the computer failure, he managed to organize a successful election within 48 hours. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Not the old settlers Some settler factions have adopted the tactics of factions in Gaza. Carrot and stick Obama says U.S. must talk to Iran but threats against Israel unacceptable.

Read & React Hebron settlers accuse IDF of collective punishment Responses: 106 Livni wants to rethink Gaza truce in wake of Qassam barrages Responses: 24 Olmert: I am shamed by Hebron settlers' pogrom Responses: 60 Amos Harel: Nothing justifies striking a photographer armed only with a camera Responses: 52 Fania Oz-Salzberger / Hebron pogromists brought catastrophe unto Israel Responses: 36 More Headlines 00:42 Obama: We must talk to Iran, but threats against Israel unacceptable 21:27 Israel offers to ease West Bank restrictions over upcoming holidays 01:04 IAF bombs Gaza militants preparing to fire Qassams 00:05 Olmert: I am shamed by Hebron settlers' pogrom 00:53 JEWISH WORLD / To be or not to be Jewish, that is the question 23:31 Reputed mobster Nissim Alperon nabbed in raid 21:16 Israel pulls 20 Palestinians from list of 250 prisoners set for release 21:19 Anarchists Against the Wall awarded German human rights prize 18:02 Settler who shot Palestinians in Hebron remanded 4 more days 19:48 IDF soldier suspected of assaulting Haaretz photographer says she struck him first 19:08 Parents of soldiers at Tel Arad base: Don't let our sons become cancer victims 22:19 Tel Aviv police seize Israeli-Arab boat set to deliver aid to Gaza 18:01 Thousands of Muslims denounce Israel as pilgrims gather for final day of hajj Previous Editions Select Day 07 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov

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