A blow to Avi Gabbay • Herzog and Margalit: Support Amir Peretz's candidacy

July 7, 2017   

MK Yitzhak (Bozhi) Herzog, who lost in the primaries for Labor Party leadership, announced this morning (Friday) his support for MK Amir Peretz, ahead of the second round of the primaries to be held on Monday. "After considering and examining all the considerations related to the elections for the leadership of the Labor Party, after consulting with my friends, I decided to stand and support the candidacy of Amir Peretz for the leadership of the Zionist Camp. "My colleagues MK Ayelet Nachmias-Verbin and MK Prof. Manuel Trachtenberg join me in this decision," said Herzog. He emphasized: "Sitting on the fence is not an option in fundamental decisions. Amir's overall experience, his security, political, social and economic record, the combination, are what tipped the scales. Experience plays a decisive role in leadership. Amir has a distinct advantage in this." Herzog noted that he asked for nothing in return for his support. "I stood on three principles: preserving the Zionist Camp, namely unity with the movement, the status of Tzipi Livni as the movement's chairwoman, and a commitment to work to establish a political bloc led by us to replace Likud and Netanyahu. I was happy that Amir Peretz responded to all of these and I will work to implement them. "I call on my supporters to stand to Amir's right, consolidate his victory and work together to change the government," added MK Herzog. MK Erel Margalit, who lost in the primaries, also announced his support for Peretz and not Avi Gabbay. At a joint press conference with Peretz, Margalit said: "I have decided to unreservedly support Amir Peretz for the leadership of the party and to work together with him to change the government in the State of Israel. We must all remember that for this to happen, we must move up a level in this struggle and mission - and today it is happening." Last night, Herzog told his activists that he has no intention of retiring from politics: "You have to look at political life as ups and downs. This is probably a process that I had to go through as part of maturing into national leadership. I probably didn't necessarily experience such an experience, even though I was close to becoming prime minister two years ago - and I didn't realize it. I hope to make it happen.".