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Senior Laborite: Barak acts like a bull in a china shop By Mazal Mualem Tags: Ehud Barak, Labor Party  The most recent excitement in Labor that included both fighting words and physical confrontations, which took place during the meeting of the Labor Party's internal affairs committee on Monday, was yet another chapter in an endless series of internecine party fighting that has characterized Barak's second tenure as party leader. This time, it was not just another confrontation between Barak and his predecessor at the party's helm, MK Amir Peretz, but a broad and spontaneous uprising that also included party secretary general MK Eitan Cabel, MK Ophir Pines, members of the party's youth movement, representatives of the Druze community, and others. Barak called a meeting so that a vote could be held to confirm the list of party members who will be part of the election committee that will oversee the elections to the internal organs of the party. The election is scheduled for June. Advertisement The June elections were imposed on Barak by the court, after Peretz petitioned and argued that Barak was intentionally delaying elections for the internal institutions of the party. There is great significance to the internal elections because in large part they will determine both the direction of the party over the next four years, and also the balance of power between Barak and Peretz. Since he lost the party leadership 10 months ago, Peretz has seen the takeover of the party institutions as a way of developing internal centers of power. Barak seems to have the same idea. The meeting was scheduled to take place at the office of party chairman Cabel, in Labor's headquarters in the Tikva neighborhood of Tel Aviv. The meeting began in a friendly atmosphere. Nothing foretold what was to follow. Barak arrived at the meeting following a full day of security related activity. His first order of business was to rally support for the appointment of former MK Efi Oshay as chairman of the election committee. This was a job that Cabel sought for himself, but Barak convinced him that it was not appropriate for the party chairman to also hold this post. Cabel accepted the decision. Those at the meeting then realized that Barak had arrived with a list of candidates for the election committee, even though Cabel had in his possession a list that had been agreed on by all factions. It was at that point that the situation deteriorated and got out of control. "No way will you [Barak] be able to hijack [the committee]," said Pines. Cabel addressed those present saying, "I sacrificed for the party chairman, I dirtied my hands in court for the chairman, but this is the red line, and I will no longer be the doormat of the party chairman." Barak withdrew, the meeting was concluded, and reports of yet another "incident of cursing and pushing" leaked to the media. "It is not clear why Barak wanted this," said a Labor MK yesterday. "Why did he even bother to come [to the meeting], and why does he manage to make the simplest issues complicated? He is behaving like a bull in a china shop." Those close to Barak say that "we chose to come to the meeting because he wants to put thing in order in the party." But it is unclear how he intends to do this. On the one hand, Barak talks of unity in the ranks, but he seems unable to normalize his relations with Peretz, has embarrassed the general secretary, and his effort to prepare a new constitution for the party has been stuck for months. Ten months after taking over the party leadership, Barak finds himself leading a divided ship, unable to seriously consider a strong run in national elections. Related articles: Will the real Barak please stand up? Peretz offers conciliatory hand to Barak amid recent infighting Amir Peretz to Ehud Barak: Who would want to vote for you? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Clear, present danger Survey : 52% of youth believe Israel faces existential threat. Feeling guilty Europe's criticism of Israel is more than just anti-Semitism.   1.   Peretz at the root of it... 08:21  |  Esther 30/04/08

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