BICOM

Labour MK Stav Shaffir announced she would run for party leader in the Labour primary, scheduled to take place on 2 July.

Former Labour Party leader Amir Peretz has also announced his intention to run, as has Itzik Shmuli and Tal Russo. Former deputy Chief of Staff, Maj.-Gen (Ret.) Yair Golan, who has not yet announced whether he is joining politics, has said he was thinking of entering the race.

Shaffir said last Thursday that current party leader Avi Gabbay had “ended his political career” after considering an offer to join a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After the Knesset vote to dissolve itself last week, Shaffir said Labour needed to rebuild itself and present the public with a fresh, hopeful vision.

Channel 12 News reported that United Torah Judaism (UTJ) asked Likud to commit to replace acting Justice Minister Amir Ohana after the 17 September elections because he is gay. According to the report, a senior member of UTJ vowed that the party “will not allow Ohana to become permanent justice minister” after the Likud boasted that it was the first time a member of the LGBT community had become a senior government minister.

Netanyahu vigorously denied the report, and Likud spokesman Yonatan Urich said: “The Prime Minister did not give any haredi party any commitment. Contrary to the report, MK Ohana has been fully appointed justice minister.” UTJ leaders Yaacov Litzman and Moshe Gafni also strongly denied the report.

Ohana addressed yesterday’s Jerusalem Pride march and said: “As a liberal, who believes with all his heart in freedom of expression, I said to the group of protesters who demonstrated against me, [who] weren’t ultra-Orthodox or religious, [that] it is important they came here.  I hope this doesn’t overshadow the main message meant to come out of this event: It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or secular, left-wing or right-wing, LGBT or not, the message is one of tolerance.”

Netanyahu met yesterday with United Right leaders, Rafi Peretz and Bezalel Smotrich, in an attempt to appease Smotrich after giving the Justice Ministry to Ohana. Netanyahu is expected to appoint Smotrich Transport Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister and made a member of the Security Cabinet. Peretz will likely be appointed Education minister.