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Amir Peretz says he is ready to conquer the seat of Prime Minister after he recaptures the Labor party leadership. Peretz spoke to the legal journal Orech Din about his plans to win the premiership. Peretz is convinced that the next Prime Minister will not be Netanyahu and sees himself as a worthy successor. However, he must first garner internal support in the Labor party. "I have begun a new journey, a journey between Afikim, Afeka, and Ofakim", said Peretz, referencing towns representing all strata of Israeli society. "This journey is meant to break the ethnic barriers which have been...

Last IDF Casualty Of Lebanon War - Israel Defense Forces Chief Halutz By Joel Leyden Israel News Agency Jerusalem ---- January 17, 2007..... It was not a surprise. And there was no weeping in the streets as Israel Defense Forces Chief Dan Halutz handed in his resignation today. Halutz, a former and respected commander of the Israel Air Force, had been criticized by almost every political party for his mishandling of the Lebanon War. Most notably, for having sent troops into Lebanon in the first few days without food and water. Halutz speaking tonight at a Navy ceremony in Haifa...

Despite claims of a mounting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the navy is under orders to maintain a sea blockade until a multinational force completes its deployment in the south, a high-ranking naval officer told The Jerusalem Post Sunday. The officer said the blockade could continue for another "several months" pending a decision by the diplomatic echelon and was in place with the goal of preventing transfer of arms to Hizbullah. Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that Israel would continue to use all the means at its disposal to thwart attempts to smuggle weapons to Hizbullah. "We plan to insist...

(IsraelNN.com) A group of reserve soldiers, who were recently discharged and are setting up a forum, have called upon Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni to resign. Tonight the soldiers will be holding a demonstration at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv at 7p.m. The demonstration is expected to be the first of several, under the banner, “You failed – resign!” In a petition publicized by the forum, the public is asked to sign the following: “We are very worried about the fate of the country. From all ends of the political spectrum, we...

It would be funny if it were not so sad Turning a golden calf into a sacred cow As the combat has trailed off in Lebanon, it can now be said that whatever Israel’s losses, it has discovered a great comedic genius: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert—a man who sent his army to war, but only after tying its shoelaces together. In fact, Olmert is more than a performing comedic artist but also a director of a war cabinet that encompasses a veritable Shakespearean company performing a seemingly endless comedy of errors. Olmert’s defense minister, Amir Peretz, offered to make peace...

Finally, after what seems to be the end of this war or at least the end of the latest round, the country's leaders seemed to acknowledge that some kind of accounting is called for. Defense Minister announced on Monday morning that he intended to "appoint a team that will conduct an intensive, comprehensive investigation of all the events leading up to the war and during the war." But he failed to say who will lead the team or even what its precise mandate would be. In his Knesset speech, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also admitted that "there were mistakes made,"...

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will wait to see in which direction the diplomatic process is headed before giving the IDF a green light to implement the expanded ground operation the security cabinet approved at the end of a tense, six-hour meeting Wednesday, senior sources in the Prime Minister's Office said. According to these officials, the waiting period would be "very short." The security cabinet, by a vote of 9-0 with three abstentions, approved plans to expand the IDF ground operation to the Litani, which at some points is 30 kilometers from the border, in order to take out the Katyusha...

Most wartime leaders look for “an exit strategy,” but in the case of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, many Israelis are wondering if there is an “entry strategy.” Indeed, in a striking statement that surprised reporters this morning (Wednesday) Prime Minister Olmert seemed to be blaming the Israeli army for not moving earlier and more aggressively to root out terrorists shooting rockets into Israel. “Until yesterday morning no operative plans were presented to to expand our military activities in Lebanon beyond where our army now stand,” declared Mr Olmert in his first live news briefing with reporters since the war...

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Thursday night that, "We expected Hizbullah to break the rules, and now we intend to break them. "We do not mean for this event to end when the situation returns to how things were a few days ago," he said. Peretz's comments came before his meeting with Assistant Secretary of State David Welch.

Apr. 25, 2006 1:43 | Updated Apr. 25, 2006 19:12 Peretz, Olmert meet on ministers By SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL AND JPOST STAFF Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz and Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the proposed reduction of ministers and the elimination of deputy ministers in the new coalition government. Senior Kadima officials said that they expected Olmert to reduce the number of Kadima ministers by one, for a total of 11 Kadima ministers in the government. Kadima sources saw the move as a way of encouraging the rest of the coalition partners to make...

Peretz 'will have to learn quickly' Peretz. 'It doesn't matter who stands at the head of the security system.' Photo: Eli Elgarat Members of the defense establishment are not afraid of expressing themselves over the probable new incoming boss, Amir Peretz. His future conduct is regarded as a 'mystery,' and he is being given a chance, but under the carpet, a lack of faith is hiding Hanan Greenberg If Labor Chairman Amir Peretz becomes minister of defense, as is looking increasingly likely, he will have a lot to learn in his new position, senior security figures told Ynet. "I don't...

Apr. 22, 2006 11:23 | Updated Apr. 22, 2006 23:32 Olmert, Peretz agree on largest government ever By GIL HOFFMANOlmert and Peretz - partnersInterim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Labor Chairman Amir Peretz talk in the Knesset during its inaugural session. Photo: Associated PressIsrael will have its largest government in history with 27 ministers by the end of the week, according to an agreement reached on Thursday night between Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Labor chairman Amir Peretz, sources close to both men said Saturday. Olmert and Peretz met after 11 p.m. at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and...

Apr. 2, 2006 3:02 | Updated Apr. 2, 2006 9:10 President Katsav to kick off coalition talks By GIL HOFFMAN AND JPOST STAFF President Moshe Katsav will begin holding consultations with party representatives on Sunday ahead of his decision this week on whom he should ask to form Israel's next government. The consultations will kick off at noon when Kadima representatives Haim Ramon, Avraham Hirchson, Roni Bar-On, Dalia Itzik, Avigdor Yitzhaki and Marina Solodkin visit Beit Hanassi. They will be followed by MKs from Labor, Shas, Israel Beiteinu and the Likud. Katsav will meet Monday with representatives from the National...

Tuesday, March 28, Israelis headed to the polls to choose their newest Prime Minister. As I write this, there is just one hour left before polls close. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to win, and a low voter turnout demonstrates that few Israelis anticipate any other outcome. Yet, a great deal is at stake in this election as the three candidates have very different ideas about matters vital to Israeli security. The Labour Party leader, Amir Peretz is willing to offer huge concessions to the Palestinians for peace, but under Arafat that approach failed, and seems even more...

Nov. 24, 2005 0:49 | Updated Nov. 24, 2005 14:33 Braverman joins Labor, not Kadima By GIL HOFFMAN AND SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL Ben Gurion University President, Professor Avishay Braverman Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski Ben Gurion University President Avishay Braverman announced Thursday his enlistment in the Labor Party, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who sought to enlist him to his new party. The move was announced at a joint press conference conducted together with Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz. While Prof. Braverman officially joined the party, no prospective position was mentioned. Braverman and Peretz publicly exchanged kind words. The...

Nov. 14, 2005 14:29 | Updated Nov. 14, 2005 20:24 Labor ministers sign resignation letters By SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL AND GIL HOFFMAN Netanyhau and Peretz, future rivals for top post? Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski [file] In a move signifying their support for Labor Party head Amir Peretz, all eight Labor Party ministers submitted to Peretz letters of resignation from the government Monday evening as per his request. In order for the resignations to take effect, the letters must be submitted to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Peretz, who refused to comment on the resignations, was expected to lead his party out of...

Nov. 14, 2005 18:38 | Updated Nov. 14, 2005 18:45 Peretz fronts bill to pay off settlers By SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL In a move that stirred controversy among MKs of all parties, newly elected Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz submitted a Knesset bill Monday that would grant compensation to West Bank settlements where 60% of the residents left voluntarily. In a statement accompanying the bill Peretz wrote that he intended to create "incentives for the continuation of voluntary evacuation of the Israeli citizens located in Judea and Samaria.” "[The disengagement] was a concrete example of the nation's ability to establish...

Peretz ready to bolt coalition New Labor chairman asks party members to prepare resignation letters Attila Somfalvi Labor Chairman Amir Peretz is preparing resignation letters with the signatures of Labor party ministers, to be used as a bargaining chip during his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday.Peretz and Peres Photo: Yaron Brenner Aides to Peretz say the move will prevent the prime minister from preemptively sacking Labor party ministers by citing any number of pretexts. A Peretz source also said the Prime Minister's Office has attempted to arrange a meeting between the newly elected Labor party chairman...

Dec. 8, 2003 Bibi interrupted at Economic Forum by activists By JPOST.COM STAFF Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, addressing the closing session of the 2003 Economic Forum, was interrupted social activists who accused him of destroying Israeli society, Monday. Netanyahu told audience members that although his economic program was a painful one, it was the only way of returning the economy to growth. He called upon Bank of Israel governor David Klein to continue lowering interest rates, in order to help the business sector - on one hand - and overdrawn lower classes - on the other. Histadrut Chairman Amir Peretz...

Finance Ministry-Histadrut talks break down The Histadrut stands by its decision to launch a general strike on November 3rd. Sapir Peretz 23 Oct 03 15:16This morning's meeting between Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu and Histadrut chairman MK Amir Perez at Kfar Hamaccabi ended without results. The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) decision to launch a general strike as of November 3 stands. After the meeting, Netanyahu told the media that it was the government job to decide what to do, but it was prepared to negotiate over how to do it. "As for what to do, we...