Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak thrown out of office six years ago in a humiliating election defeat, won the leadership of the dovish Labour Party today in a dramatic political comeback.
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| Former Prime Minister Ehud Baraks after declaring his victory as the Labour Party |
Mr Barak now begins the race for the real prize — a return to the nation's top job, which he held for less than two years. But he is expected to bide his time, first remaining in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition government to burnish his leadership credentials.
Mr Barak (65) a former commando and army chief of staff who is Israel's most decorated soldier, faced off in yesterday's race against political newcomer Ami Ayalon, a former navy commander and head of Israel's internal security service.
He won by a margin of six percentage points, party officials announced early today.
At a victory gathering early today at party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Mr Barak called for unity and pledged to restore Israel's military might and deterrent power. He pledged a policy that "combines uncompromising security, protecting Israel's solidarity and democracy, a determined pursuit of real peace, the reinforcement of the rule of law and healing Israeli society".
Mr Barak has called on Mr Olmert to step down over an official report charging he badly mishandled Israel's conflict last summer against Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon.
But Mr Barak is unlikely to immediately pull Labour out of its partnership in Mr Olmert's governing coalition. He is expected instead to become defence minister, at least until the final version of the war report is published in August.
The current party leader, Defence Minister Amir Peretz, was trounced in the first round of party elections on May 28th, meaning that he will leave his ministerial post soon.
AP