Labor unveils campaign slogan: 'Because the time has come'

The Labor Party kicked off on Thursday its new temporary campaign aimed at stopping its slide in recent public opinion polls, and which will run under the slogan "Labor - Because the time has come."

With its new campaign, Labor is abandoning earlier plans for a campaign attacking Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in favor of one with a more positive flavor that will inspire party activists.

The campaign, which will end with the January 17 party primaries, also seeks to boost Labor activists on the ground.

Other slogans in the campaign which reflect the main ideas in Labor's platform are "Student - It's time someone thought about you," "It's time for social justice" and "It's time to end corruption."

Labor Chairman MK Amir Peretz said on Thursday's campaign kickoff that he did not plan any changes in Labor's platform which focuses on socio-economic issues.

"We intend to win the elections and I suggest we don't change the campaign's direction," Peretz said.

Other heads of the Labor Party asked candidates running in the primaries to refrain from publicly criticizing the party's platform, fearing it could damage the party.

Peretz rebuffed criticism by Sharon's Kadima party that Labor was unable to address security and diplomatic issues. "Some say we are confused over security issues, but the one really confused is Kadima. An iron curtain was drawn around Sharon - He does not say anything, he does not take any responsibility."

Drift to Kadima only 'passing trend'Shelly Yachimovich, who shot into politics last month after quitting her job as a Channel 2 journalist, claimed that the recent voters' drifting toward Kadima was nothing more than "a passing trend."

Yachimovich told Israel Radio that what interests most of the Israeli citizens today are the country's economic and social problems, and not security-related issues.

The veteran reporter also accused the media of "excessively embracing Prime Minister Sharon" and paying too much attention to his political agenda.

Hong Kong planSenior party officials Wednesday confirmed the party's diplomatic team is considering adopting the "Hong Kong plan" as a solution to the problem of Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank. As reported in Haaretz Wednesday, the plan would involve Israel's leasing from the Palestinians the land on which major settlement blocs stand.

Party officials were quick to emphasize that social welfare issues will remain at the top of Labor's agenda, despite the higher profile being given to the diplomatic and security area.

Bringing Peres homeMK Shalom Simhon is leading an effort to bring Shimon Peres back into the party fold, as well as to mend the rift between Ehud Barak and the Labor leadership.

"[Labor chairman Amir] Peretz, Barak and Peres are a winning team," Simhon said. "No other party would be able to beat it." However, Simhon conceded that his efforts were unlikely to bear results due to resistance from party MKs who fear slipping farther down the list of candidates if Barak and Peres are guaranteed places at the top.

Labor's election campaign budget of NIS 25 million was approved Wednesday. The relatively modest sum is due to the party's financial difficulties, though in comparison with the NIS 20 million of Labor's previous general election campaign it is still hefty.