BICOM

Shelly Yahimovich and Amir Peretz, the two remaining candidates in the race for the leadership of Israel’s Labour Party, are currently competing for the endorsement of senior party figures, in the run up to the second round of voting, due to take place on Wednesday. Former party leader Amram Mitzna has endorsed the candidacy of Amir Peretz, as have former MK and Labor Party General-Secretary Nissim Zvili, and former minister Moshe Shahal. MKs Eitan Cabel, Daniel Ben Simon and Raleb Majadeleh have also endorsed the Peretz campaign. Former Social Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman, meanwhile, has endorsed Yahimovich’s campaign.

Peretz previously served as party leader, and was minister of defence during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Yahimovich, meanwhile, is a former prominent journalist. Both candidates are identified with the promotion of a social agenda and a primary concern with internal affairs, rather than with the foreign policy and security issues, which have traditionally dominated the Israeli political discussion.