Labor Party Chairman and Defense Minister Amir Peretz and MK Avishay Braverman met Wednesday for the first time since the two severed contact six months ago.

Contact between the two broke off after Peretz went back on his promise to appoint Braverman Finance Minister. During the meeting, Braverman declined Peretz's offer to take over the culture and sports portfolio, following the resignation of Ophir Pines-Paz.

Pines-Paz quit Monday over Labor's decision to support the inclusion of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman into the coalition and his appointment as deputy prime minister and minister for strategic threats.

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Braverman thanked Peretz, but refused the offer saying he opposed being part of the coalition. At the meeting's end, the two agreed to renew their relationship and meet again in the future.

Peretz had also offered the portfolio to Labor MK Matan Vilnai, with whom he met later Wednesday. Vilnai told Peretz he would be interested in being a minister, and the two agreed to meet again in the near future.

Vilnai is one of the leading candidates for the position, which he has served in the past. If appointed, Vilnai may be asked to relinquish his Knesset seat to make room for number 20 on Labor's list, Druze representative Shakib Sna'an.

Bringing Sna'an into Knesset would be likely to advabce Peretz's stance within the Arab sector.

The appointment of Vilnai, who is one of Peretz's most outspoken critics, could also possibly diminish oposition to Peretz within the Labor party.

Peretz was to hold a series of consultations with other Labor ministers and MKs in an attempt to reach an agreement on Pines-Paz's resignation, which goes into effect Wednesday afternoon.

The new appointment requires the approval of the party's central committee, and Peretz, who is not interested in another power struggle in the committee, would like a candidate with unanimous support.

Aside from Vilnai, former prime minister Ehud Barak could also potentially be in the running for the position and has a number of supporters trying to arrange for him to join the government.

Although Peretz has not rejected the option of Barak as out of hand, he is unlikely to put the former leader in a position of strength. He has not yet approached Barak about taking the position, although the two might meet Friday.

Six candidates for the party leadership
The declaration by outgoing minister Pines-Paz of his intention to contest the Labor party leadership has so far not caused shifts on the party map. At least six candidates are now planning to enter the race, whose exact date is yet to be determined. Party regulations call for primaries to be held in May 2007, but they are likely to be postponed.

With so many contestants in the divided party, which according to the latest polls could garner a mere 15 seats in an election, Peretz can expect to have a hard time. So far, he is the only minister who plans to enter the race - unless the "Barak initiative" gains momentum and the former prime minister is parachuted into the cabinet.

Besides Pines-Paz, Vilnai and Barak, other hopefuls are Knesset members Ami Ayalon, Braverman and Danny Yatom. Without the yoke of ministerial responsibility, they will be free to make Peretz's life a misery and will constitute an internal opposition to him, in their efforts to distinguish themselves from Peretz in the eyes of voters.

Pines-Paz, the new and fresh opposition, is the most problematic, from the point of view of Peretz. Until now he has been moderate in his criticism of Peretz, but since sending in his letter of resignation, he has begun attacking him fiercely. He will remind Peretz daily of the social agenda, of his commitment to evacuate the outposts, and of Avigdor Lieberman.

But though Pines-Paz begins from a strong position, he will have to develop his management skills, build up his body of supporters (among the other party rebels, three are also candidates for the top position), refrain from becoming worn out, and remain relevant until May.

Braverman and Ayalon are a different story. Each agreed that he would support the other if he seemed to have a better chance of success, in return for becoming that candidate's number 2. So far, this is still the plan, but there are those in the party who believe the agreement will not last for long.

At present, among the three, surveys put Ayalon in the lead. He is appearing around the country and slowly building up a network of supporters. Yatom, long considered a Barak supporter, is still serious about contesting.

But now Barak, who for years has been out of favor, appears to be making a comeback in the polls. He is maintaining his cool and until he is convinced that there is a serious momentum in his favor, does not plan to leave behind his business ventures and take a significant step in the direction of the various party branches.