Barak: New faction to be 'centralist, Zionist, democratic'

Jerusalem Post ^ | 1/17/11 | Gil Hoffman and Herb Keinon

[dervish]

The Knesset House Committee on Monday approved a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to split from the Labor party and form a new faction called 'Independence' (Atzmaut). The split was approved with a majority of 11 MKs voting in favor.

Shortly after the announcement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made a request to begin coalition negotiations the newly-formed faction. Representatives from Netanyahu's office are expected to meet with Labor breakaway representatives MK Einat Wilf and Agricultural Minister Shalom Simhon.

Speaking at a press conference at the Knesset after he and four other Labor MKs submitted the request, Barak said that the new faction that would be "centralist, Zionist and democratic."

Barak said that the faction's agenda will be "first of all the state, then the party, then the media, and only then ourselves." He vowed that he and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, Simhon, Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Orit Noked, and Wilf would "do what's best and what's right for Israel."

"We are creating a new faction and we will call on everyone who believes in our path to join."

"We are leaving for a new path. We are leaving a home and people we love," Barak continued.

"It wasn't always healthy and good for Labor. We noticed a shift towards the Left and post-Zionism," Barak said.

[dervish]

"It wasn't always healthy and good for Labor. We noticed a shift towards the Left and post-Zionism," Barak said.

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[SunkenCiv]

The Knesset House Committee on Monday approved a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to split from the Labor party... Shortly after the announcement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made a request to begin coalition negotiations the newly-formed faction.

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