Labor MKs slam Barak for failing to politically capitalize on Annapolis
MK Pines-Paz: They're all going to Annapolis to drink coffee, because nothing will happen there.
By Mazal Mualem Tags: Ehud Barak Annapolis conference Israel Labor PartyCriticism is growing among senior Labor Party officials about the failure of their party chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to take political advantage of the upcoming summit in Annapolis.
MK Ephraim Sneh recently asked the party's secretary general, MK Eitan Cabel, to hold a Central Committee discussion on the peace process prior to the summit, in part to vote on a resolution affirming the party's commitment to the peace process. "A Labor Party that does not lead the peace process has no right to exist," Cabel said. "Labor is being led, not leading; Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is taking the reins as leader. If we continue to be dragged along we will become irrelevant. Annapolis is a positive opportunity."
MK Ophir Pines-Paz said that Labor must lock Olmert in from the left and it isn't doing so.
Instead, he said, Olmert is operating in accordance with the red lines drawn by Eli Yishai of Shas and Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu, and "that is a big failure on the part of Labor; for every ultimatum from Lieberman and Yishai, Olmert should get an ultimatum from the left, via Barak. That's why, in my opinion, they're all going to Annapolis to drink coffee because nothing will happen there."
Pines-Paz said that Olmert is trying to buy political time and to trap Labor inside the governing coalition; after the summit Labor will be unable to leave the coalition, because it cannot leave in the middle of peace negotiations.
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Man, if this jackass represents Israel's future, it is very sad.
How has Israel ended up with so many incompotent people in high places ? Their arguementation exposes their lack of understanding of the situation and the task ahead.Israel desperately needs elections now so as to rid itself of the unworthy snouts having a feeding frezy round the public purse.Olmert needs his day in court to prove his innocence.Elections now and adandon the Annapolis Republican Primary.
As in America, the political parties of Israel have more similarities than they do differences. They are there to give the nation the appearance of being a "democracy". In reality, the forces that bring a government to power and the things which the government does are far beyond the influence of the common people.