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2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

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2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election
← 2003 (interim) 9 November 2005 2007 →
Turnout63.88%
 
Candidate Amir Peretz Shimon Peres Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Party Labor Labor Labor
Popular vote 27,098 25,572 10,764
Percentage 42.2% 39.82% 16.76%
Leader before election

Shimon Peres (interim)

 Elected Leader

Amir Peretz

A leadership election was held by the Israeli Labor Party on 9 November 2005. Chairman of the Histadrut Trade union Amir Peretz defeated Deputy Prime Minister[1] and incumbent leader of the party Shimon Peres.[2][3]

Background

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In 2001, special elections for the position of prime minister took place after the resignation of Ehud Barak. Barak, then the leader of the Labor party, lost to Ariel Sharon,[4] and subsequently retired from political life.[5] he was replaced by Binyamin Ben-Eliezer,[6] who was subsequently defeated by Amram Mitzna in 2002. Mitzna resigned the next year due to the party's poor performance in the 2003 election.[7] as a result of Mitzna's resignation, the decision was made to appoint party veteran Shimon Peres as interim leader in June 2003, with the intent that he would serve for one year.[8]

In July 2003, members of the Labor Party began talks regarding precise primary dates. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and his allies wanted to establish a committee to prepare for internal elections, to be held in June 2004,[9] which the party's internal bureau rejected.[10] In September, Peres began negotiations with the One Nation party, led by Amir Peretz, with the hopes of fielding a joint list in the next election.[11][12] in November, several members of the party, including Dalia Itzik and Avraham Burg, proposed the extension of Peres's term by at least one year.[13] Ben-Eliezer initially opposed both motions, and accused Peres of selling out the party, but reached an agreement with Peres to lengthen his term by a year in February 2004.[14] Labor reached an agreement with One Nation in May 2004, despite Ben-Eliezer's opposition.[15] the two parties later merged in 2005.[16]

In December 2004, the party's central committee scheduled the upcoming primary for June 2005.[17] Peretz announced his intention to run on 12 June.[18] the following month, Labor joined the government of Ariel Sharon.[19] with Peres becoming the Vice Prime Minister.[20] on 26 June 2005, two days before the scheduled primary date, the primary was delayed following the discovery of potential fraud in a recently-conducted party census.[21] following the postponement, Barak dropped out of the race and endorsed Peres on 11 September.[22] Member of the Knesset Matan Vilnai announced his intention to run on 10 October.[23] on 16 October, the Central Committee set the primary date on 9 November.[24] Vilnai dropped out of the race on 6 November after Peres promised to appoint him Minister of Defense in a labor-led government.[25][26]

Campaign

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Peretz campaigned on a desire to return labor to its socialist roots, opposing free market reforms and budgetary cuts which he argued hurt Israel's poor. In addition, he campaigned for his party's withdrawal from the government at the time.[27]

Peres campaigned on his political experience, portraying himself as a calm and civil candidate.[28]

Before dropping out on 11 September, Barak campaigned against the government of the time. He argued that it was incapable of protecting citizens and vowed to back law enforcement if elected. Barak received endorsements from former leader Amram Mitzna, members of the Knesset Avraham Shochat and Danny Yatom, and Minister of Environmental Protection[29] Shalom Simhon.[30]

Candidates

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Withdrawn

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Results

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2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labor Amir Peretz 27,098 42.2%
Labor Shimon Peres 25,572 39.82%
Labor Binyamin Ben-Eliezer 10,764 16.76%
Turnout 64,204 63.88%

Aftermath

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Peres initially claimed that widespread fraud might have taken place during the primary[34] but met with Peretz and conceded on 11 November.[35] he left the labor party on 30 November to join the newly-formed Kadima party,[36] and was elected President of Israel in 2007.[20] Peretz and the Labor party went on to contest the 2006 election, in which they came in second and won 19 seats, achieving no net change in seats.[37] Peretz was later defeated for re-election as leader of the Labor Party in 2007 by Ehud Barak.[38]

References

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  1. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-11-10). "מהפך בעבודה: עמיר פרץ נבחר לראשות המפלגה" [Upset in Labor: Amir Peretz elected party leader]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  2. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-11-09). "פרס ל-ynet: אם לא יהיה שינוי, נצא מהממשלה" [Peres to Ynet: If there will be no change, we will leave the government]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  3. ^ a b ynet (2005-11-10). "עמיר פרץ: מחקלאי בכיסא גלגלים למנהיג העובדים" [Amir Peretz: from Wheelchair-bound farmer to Worker's leader]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  4. ^ "הבחירות בישראל 2001" [2001 Israeli election]. Israel Democracy Institute. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  5. ^ Karni, Yuval (2012-11-26). "אהוד ברק הודיע: פורש מהחיים הפוליטיים" [Ehud Barak Announced he is retiring from political life]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  6. ^ Lis, Jonathan (2016-08-28). "Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, 1936-2016: From Scared Iraqi Immigrant Boy to an Israeli Political Giant". Haaretz. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. ^ "דרכו הקצרה של מצנע בהנהגת העבודה" [Mitzna's short time as Labor leader]. ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  8. ^ "פרס נבחר ליו"ר הזמני: "נחזיר את המפלגה לגדולתה"" [Peres elected temporary chairman: "We will return the party to its former greatness"]. ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  9. ^ "פרס דחה צירוף ברק ללשכת העבודה" [Peres rejected Barak's inclusion in Labor bureau]. ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  10. ^ "מקורבי בן אליעזר זועמים: "פרס ופינס עשו מחטף"" [Ben Eliezer's confidants are angry: "Peres and Pines conducted an abduction"]. ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  11. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2003-09-16). "יו"ר העבודה פרס קרא לאיחוד עם עמיר פרץ" [Labor leader Peres calls for union with Amir Peretz]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  12. ^ "שמעון פרס: בשלו התנאים לאיחוד בין 'העבודה' ו'עם אחד' בראשות עמיר פרץ" [Shimon Peres: Conditions are right for a union between 'Labor' and 'One Israel' Led by Amir Peretz]. Globes. 2003-09-16. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  13. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2003-11-03). "מהלך בעבודה: להאריך את כהונת פרס בשנה לפחות" [Move in Labor: to Lengthen Peres' tenure by at least one year]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  14. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2003-11-10). ""אתה מוכר אותנו", הטיח בן אליעזר בפרס" [Ben-Eliezer accuses Peres: "You're selling us"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  15. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2004-05-20). "העבודה אישרה את האיחוד עם מפלגתו של עמיר פרץ" [Labor approves union with Amir Peretz's party]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  16. ^ "One Nation". Israel Democracy Institute. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  17. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2004-12-12). "העבודה אישרה פריימריס ביוני, ברק חיבק את שחל" [Labor approves primaries in June, Barak hugs Shahal]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  18. ^ Mualem, Mazal (2005-06-12). "עמיר פרץ: אתמודד על ראשות העבודה, גם מול פרס" [Amir Peretz: I will run for leadership of Labor, even against Peres]. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  19. ^ "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon". main.knesset.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  20. ^ a b c "Prime Minister Shimon Peres". m.knesset.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  21. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-06-23). "מזכ"ל העבודה: לדחות את הבחירות בחודשיים" [Labor Secretary calls for leadership election to be delayed by two months]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  22. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-09-11). "ברק הסיר מועמדותו, פרס: לא לעסוק בעבר" [Barak removes candidacy, Peres: We shouldn't focus on the past]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  23. ^ a b Zalikovich, Moran (2005-10-10). "וילנאי רץ: "פרס ופרץ - חלום רטוב של היריבים"" [Vilnai announces candidacy: "Peres and Peretz - Enemy's wet dream"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  24. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-10-16). "הוחלט: הפריימריז בעבודה ב-9 בנובמבר" [Labor primary date set for 9 November]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  25. ^ "פרס לוילנאי: "פרוש מהמרוץ ותמונה לשר ביטחון בממשלתי"" [Peres to Vilnai: "Retire from the race and be a Minister of Defense in my government"]. Ma'ariv nrg (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  26. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (2005-11-06). "פרס הציע לוילנאי להיות שר ביטחון - והוא פרש מהמירוץ" [Peres offered Vilnai Defense ministry - and he withdrew from the race]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  27. ^ Agencies (2005-11-10). "Peres loses party leadership bid". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  28. ^ Asolin, Gabriel (2005-05-22). "שינויים בהרגלי הבחירה" [Changes in electoral habits]. Globes. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  29. ^ "שלום שמחון מציג: קצת עסקים, קצת פוליטיקה והרבה מאוד קשרים" [Shalom Simhon Presents: a little business, a little politics and many connections]. TheMarker. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  30. ^ Lubich, Vered (2005-06-14). "ברק נגד פרס: "על ראש הלוזר בוער הכובע"" [Barak vs Peres: "The hat burns on the Loser's head"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  31. ^ "Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer". Knesset (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  32. ^ "Ehud Barak". Knesset (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  33. ^ "התוצאות הסופיות בבחירות לראשות מפלגת העבודה". Israeli Labor Party (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2005-11-30. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  34. ^ שומפלבי, אטילה (2005-11-10). "שמעון פרס: "לבדוק חשדות לזיופים"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  35. ^ שומפלבי, אטילה (2005-11-11). "פרס בפגישה עם פרץ: "מקבל את ההכרעה"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  36. ^ "CNN.com - Peres quits Labor Party, backs Sharon - Nov 30, 2005". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  37. ^ "2006 election". Israel Democracy Institute. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  38. ^ "פרץ בירך את ברק והבטיח לשתף עמו פעולה: "לא אעשה לך את מה שעשו לי"". TheMarker. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
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