Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 19, 2008 Adar2 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:35 (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

Newly elected Meretz chair Haim Oron. (Archives) Last update - 10:09 19/03/2008 New Meretz chair: We won't join Olmert's government By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Meretz, Haim Oron  After being elected the Meretz party's next chairman, MK Haim Oron on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of the faction joining Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government. Oron is considered a close associate of the prime minister's, and was widely believed to have sought to join Olmert's coalition in the event of success in the primaries. "This is not up for discussion," the incoming Meretz chairman said Tuesday. The MK gained some 54 percent of the votes in Tuesday's party primaries, with about 90 percent of the votes counted. Advertisement As such, Oron will not need to go to a second round of primaries. Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday telephoned Oron to congratulate him on his election, and advised him to consider seriously joining the government. "Meretz's joining the government can strengthen the government in its efforts to reach a political arrangement [with the Palestinians]," Barak said. The defense minister also called on Olmert to work toward Meretz's inclusion in his coalition. Oron seemingly rejected the possibility of this, however, when he said Tuesday that, "the Olmert government, in every area, says one thing and does another. Defense Minister Ehud Barak says he is striving for peace, yet has not evacuated even one outpost." "In addition, Meretz is a witness to the crisis in negotiations with the Palestinians and therefore sees absolutely no reason for Meretz to join the government," Oron said. The MK stated that the party's first mission was to become a meaningful factor in Israeli politics, and to bring back groups who had left the party such as young people. MK Ran Cohen, who ran against Oron, garnered some 27 percent of the primaries vote. MK Zahava Gal-On, another contender, received about 18 percent. Some 70 percent of Meretz's 15,000 members turned out at 132 polling stations nationwide, in order to choose a replacement for current party chairman MK Yossi Beilin. "I spoke with Ran and with Zahava and both of them congratulated me on my victory," said Oron. Oron will be tasked with pulling the party out of its current crisis, and preparing it for the next parliamentary elections Bookmark to del.icio.us   My three homelands French Vogue chose Lizzie Doron as one of Israel's influential authors. President Barghouti Jailed Tanzim leader says he's considering running in next PA presidential elections.   1.   Mazel Tov MK Haim Oron 05:20  |  Smadar 19/03/08   2.   Meretz totally irrelevent!! 10:19  |  Ayelet 19/03/08   3.   Ayelet # 2 i wish to appoligise to you 10:45  |  SJ 19/03/08   4.   Dear SJ 11:56  |  Ayelet 19/03/08   5.   CONSIDER MOSHE FEIGLIN FOR LEADER,HE`S YOUNG, WON`T JOIN OLDMERT 12:17  |  VOICE))))))))) 19/03/08   6.   Who needs Meretz? 13:39  |  Gene 19/03/08   7.   I need Meretz 14:16  |  Mike 19/03/08   8.   Mike - you are the perfect shas voter!!! 15:04  |  Dr Eric 19/03/08   9.   #4 Ayelet 15:52  |  Phoenix 19/03/08   10.   Dear Dr Eric 16:22  |  Mike 19/03/08

Today Online Tom Segev: Merkel slams Qassams, but ignores Israel's actions Responses: 156 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal for long-term Gaza truce Responses: 54 High Court closes off use of major highway to Palestinians Responses: 100 Study finds Israeli Jews increasingly racist toward Arabs Responses: 109 Security forces fear double Hezbollah attack in Israel, abroad Responses: 63 Rosner's Domain McCain rep to Jewish crowd: Christian right 'serious problem' Were Shakespeare's Plays Written By A Jewish Woman? (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Did Iraq have ties to Al Qaeda? (WTR) More Headlines 16:29 J'lem police chief: Cop on duty should have stopped yeshiva attacker 16:34 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal on long-term Gaza tuce 14:07 McCain to FM: Abbas rejects Gaza violence, wants peace deal 15:48 Obama at oratorical best, but Wright saga still not over 10:07 Security forces fear double Hezbollah revenge attack in Israel, abroad 10:53 High Court closes off use of major highway to Palestinians 10:09 Study: Israeli Jews becoming increasingly racist toward Arabs 15:50 Finance Min.: We won't hesitate to act against dropping dollar 10:09 New Meretz chair: We won't join Olmert's government 14:31 Hamas refuses Fatah demand it cede Gaza control for reconciliation 12:41 Senior Abbas adviser suspected of smuggling phones to Jordan 14:08 Knesset bill: Buying alcohol for minors will be criminal offense Previous Editions Select Day 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar

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