Peretz: The Peres-Vilnai pact will save Sharon, not the Labor Party

Histadrut labor federation chairman Amir Peretz on Monday morning slammed the last-minute Labor Party election deal struck a day earlier between Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Labor MK Matan Vilnai.

Peres won the loyalty of Vilnai with a promise to name the former general as defense minister in a future Peres-led government in exchange for his dropping out of the race for Labor leadership.

"The pact signed yesterday is not the League for the Salvation of Shimon, but rather the League for the Salvation of [Prime Minister Ariel Sharon]," Peretz said.

Peretz appealed to members of the Kibbutz Movement saying "don't let them make this pact at your expense.

"This is a pact that will perpetuate the social gaps in Israel. Be a part of the social revolution that will change the rule of law. Come build with me a social democratic party in Israel," Peretz said.

Peretz also told journalist that 20 Vilnai campaign managers transferred their support to him after Vilnai quit the Labor race.

Vilnai pulls from raceVilnai announced late Sunday that he was bowing out of the race. The move was seen as undercutting the lead in polls enjoyed by Peretz. Analysts have said that the 15 percent support Vilnai has maintained in the polls over the past few days any decide the primary.

"If I form the government, he will be defense minister in my cabinet," Peres later told reporters, referring to Vilnai, who retired from the army when he was denied the chief of staff position in favor of then-army colleague and present Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

"I call upon Matan Vilnai to be my senior partner in the upcoming elections," Peres said.

Reporters asked Peres whether another candidate in the Labor Party leadership race, MK Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, had turned down a similar offer. Peres confirmed the rumor by saying "I approached (Ben-Eliezer)and spoke to him. That is what he said."

Upon hearing the news at a supporter's rally at Kibbutz Ein Shemer, Peretz lashed out at Vilnai's decision.

"It's strange that a candidate that has been saying that leadership change and ushering in a new generation are the party's future is quitting" Peretz said. "Your quitting the campaign because of polls? It's unacceptable. I'm in favor of different approaches, different opinions that build up a collective ideology. For two years you preached and now, because of political considerations, you're quitting?"

Meanwhile, the party's appeals institution ruled that the Labor Central Committee did not have to convene Sunday or Monday, which would have meant possibly opening the voter rolls and postponement of the primaries.

Pressure has also been brought to bear on Ben-Eliezer to step down. On Friday he spoke with Peres by phone and informed him he intended to stay in the running. Sources in Ben-Eliezer's campaign said that in any case his withdrawal would not help Peres since he does not appeal to the same sector. "Nothing can happen in the next four days to cause Ben-Eliezer to withdraw," a source in his campaign said.

At the weekend, following the declaration of support for Peres by former ministers Ra'anan Cohen and Micha Harish and former MK Nissim Zvili, Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz also announced his support for the party chairman, as did Housing Minister Isaac Herzog.

The Peretz campaign has accused the Peres camp of putting unfair pressure on the other candidates to resign. "With Peres, if the polls don't show a clear victory, the elections should be canceled or the other candidates should be canceled or the voters should be canceled," they said.

	Cabinet Minister Matan Vilnai. His campaign is aware that the 15% support he has maintained in the polls over the past few days means a decision to withdraw might decide the elections.