Peretz camp to vote for Ayalon in Labor runoff, aides say

[oberliner]

Associates of outgoing Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz predicted Thursday that the Peretz camp will vote strongly in favor of rival Ami Ayalon in the Labor Party runoff for chairman.

Peretz is expected to announce his support for Ayalon on Sunday evening, presenting the details of an agreement to his supporters.

The associates said former prime minister Ehud Barak's pretentious behavior toward the defense minister had been a mistake, and that Barak realized too late he cannot dissolve the Peretz camp.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/865889.html

This could be huge.

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. Mr. Ayalon does seem to be quite reasonable

Especially considering that he is a former Admiral and former Director of Shin Bet. But sometimes military types are pragmatist. And he does seem to at least somewhat understand dynamics working in Palestinian society.

I was just reading his own words in an article by him "My Vision of Peace
By Admiral (ret.) Ami Ayalon"

link: http://ameinu.net/perspectives/current_issues.php?articleid=28

snip:"Let me tell you why terror levels fell. It did not happen because of the Israeli Shin-Bet, I was the director most of the time and I can tell you that Avi Dichter who replaced me is a very good Director. From an operational point of view the Israeli Shin-Bet is doing a great job.

There are reasons other than the Shin Bet that terror levels fell. We analyzed these and found a very interesting correlation between three factors. The first was Palestinian public opinion, as it was measured by Doctor Khalil Shikaki. The second factor was the terror policy made by Hamas, and the third factor was the prevention and security policy of the Palestinian Authority. "

snip:"As we understood it then, when support for the peace process was high amongst the Palestinian street the Palestinian Authority made greater efforts to prevent terror and Hamas used terror less often.

Allow me to explain. We Israelis see Hamas as a terror organization and we are right. But we must understand that Hamas is not only a terrorist organization. It is also a way of life and a religious movement. Hamas has charities, they have municipal organizations, and they have financial organizations. Hamas will not fight against the will of the Palestinian street. They will not use terror when Palestinians do not approve of terrorism as a legitimate tool.

When Palestinians see progress in the political process (the peace process) they do not approve terror as a legitimate tool. This is why when the Palestinians felt like they were achieving freedom, less humiliation, and an improved economy they did not approve of Hamas or terror. For this reason the PA could fight against terror and Hamas without being perceived as Israeli collaborators. "

link to full article:

http://ameinu.net/perspectives/current_issues.php?articleid=28

.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Ayalon looks like a good man, from what I can see!

But any Labour government would be better than any Likud government.