Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 18, 2008 Adar2 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:46 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:59 18/03/2008 Meretz voters hit polls in search of new leader to save party By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: meretz-yahad, israel  After wrapping up a sleepy election campaign, 15,000 registered Meretz party members are set to vote Tuesday for a new party leader to replace Yossi Beilin. The three contenders in the primary are Knesset members Haim Oron, Zahava Gal-On and Ran Cohen. The winner will be tasked with pulling the leftist party out of its lengthy rut, and preparing it for the next elections. Under Meretz bylaws, the winner must get at least 50 percent of the vote. Should no candidate meet this criteria, a second round will take place in two weeks, on April 1. Advertisement Oron, the presumptive front-runner, is working for a clear victory Tuesday, while his rivals are both striving for a result that will take them into the second round. All three candidates will focus Tuesday on raising voter turnout. Oron has the backing of the kibbutz sector, which represents about a third of party members. Gal-On and Cohen will vie mostly for the heterogenous urban sector, totaling some 6,000 voters. Polling stations across the country will be open from 4:30 P.M. to 9 P.M., and results are expected to be in at 11 P.M. Oron, who was reluctant to enter the fray until recently, won Beilin's endorsement to replace him, as well as the support of MK Avshalom Vilan, former Meretz leader Shulamit Aloni and the writer Amos Oz. Cohen lost to Beilin in the 2004 primary, but is convinced he can prevent an Oron sweepstake. Cohen is running on a social-issues agenda, and campaigned on a promise to open up the party to broader constituencies. Gal-On set her sights on young voters of the sort who have abandoned Meretz in recent years, and those who did not know Meretz in its heyday as a vibrant young party that took a combative lead on political and civil issues. She has focused on civil rights, on the assumption that Meretz's political claims to the leftist mantle have been adopted by other parties to some degree. Meretz's base has aged in recent years, as visibly attested by the crowd at party conventions. It also lost several thousand of its registered voters, compared to the 2004 primary. In the last general election Meretz won only five seats, its worst showing ever. From the opposition, Meretz has backed certain political moves in recent years, including Ariel Sharon's disengagement from Gaza. After the 2006 elections, Meretz held brief coalition talks that went nowhere. In recent months, the possibility has been raised of Meretz joining Ehud Olmert's coalition if peace talks with the Palestinians take a practical turn. At times of coalition crises, there have been hints from Olmert associates that Meretz is a potential partner. Word has it that a victory by Oron, who is considered close to the prime minister, would pave the way for the party to enter the government. However, Oron has made it clear that Meretz can go on supporting diplomacy efforts from outside. Meretz sources said that Oron, if elected, is highly unlikely to lead the party to join the coalition, due to opposition within the party to such a move. Related articles: No picnic for Meretz Beilin drops out of Meretz leadership race, throws support to MK Oron Former Meretz chair Sarid to address Winograd protest on Monday Beilin: Gov't must reach deal with Hamas before Mideast summit Bookmark to del.icio.us   Facebook face-off Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine. Shin Bet.com The covert agency has deployed a new weapon: the blog.   1.   I Hope These Cultists Continue to Flounder 05:40  |  Tod Zuckerman 18/03/08   2.   #1 Tod - and we hope... 07:43  |  Mordechai 18/03/08   3.   save a party 09:12  |  colin 18/03/08   4.   מנהיג חדש למרץ 12:35  |  דנה רייבן 18/03/08   5.   The name of this party 12:55  |  Pam Stein 18/03/08   6.   MOSHE FEIGLIN HAS ENOUGH MERETZ TO ENERGIZE MERETZ.VOTE FOR MOSHE 13:12  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/03/08   7.   Self Determination of the Jewish People 14:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/03/08

Today Online Slain Jihad leader's son: My entire family has turned Hezbollah Responses: 54 9-year-old Sderot rocket victim faces life after losing leg Responses: 18 Amir Oren: John McCain - For Israel, best of all candidates Responses: 19 Editorial: Facing pogrom by rightist Jews, police go limp Responses: 15 Rabbi stabbed in neck in East Jerusalem terror attack Responses: 16 Rosner's Domain Eagleburger was just trying to have fun Play the anti-Semite for Obama (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Jeremiah Wright: did Obama explain enough? Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? More Headlines 11:06 Rabbi stabbed in neck in E. Jerusalem terror attack 10:59 Israeli stocks rebound after latest tumble, dollar does not 14:28 Report: Suleiman delays Israel visit due to 'ongoing aggression' 11:27 Jailed Barghouti mulls running for Palestinian presidency 15:11 Labor MK to shun Merkel's Knesset speech in German 13:34 McCain rep to Jewish crowd: the Christian right is 'serious problem' 12:17 Sderot rocket victim Osher Twito, 9, copes with loss of leg 15:43 Rubinstein Piano Competition / The Georgian is still infatuating 14:36 Hi-tech Israeli water companies shoot for world market 12:00 Peres, Merkel: Key to peace lies in bolstering of PA economy 14:23 Guard killed in blast near U.S. embassy in Yemeni capital 13:38 Barak has no regrets over Bethlehem raid that killed 4 militants Previous Editions Select Day 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved