Ayalon to resign from Labor

Minister summons his supporters, stresses departure tied to Labor Chairman Barak's conduct. With the official press conference set for Sunday, it still remains unclear where his political future lies
Attila Somfalvi

Minister Ami Ayalon will announce his resignation from the Labor party on Sunday, in yet another blow to the party's chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "A party with no ideals, no standards, no rules, that changes every morning - that's not a party you should be in," Ayalon told several dozen of his supporters on Saturday evening and informed them he would not continue with Labor



Ayalon is expected to convene a press conference in Tel Aviv to make the formal announcement, though it remains unclear which party he intends to tie his political destiny to in the upcoming general elections.



"There are four candidates in Labor who see themselves as future party leaders. Now they will go around saying how good Barak is, but in four months they will start calling for him to go home. I'm not willing to play that game," said the minister, who does not hold a portfolio, at the Sedot Yam rally.



At Sunday's press conference he is expected to say he no longer sees himself in the party under Barak.



At present time Ayalon is collaborating with Meimad's chairman, MK Michael Melchior, but it is not clear if the two will run together as part of Meimad – which currently has an agreement with Labor.



Officials close to Ayalon said he was unlikely to choose the Meimad route.



Ayalon has also recently held intensive talks with Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron, but the negotiations

appear to have become stagnated. Ayalon reportedly demanded he be assured the second-highest ranking on the party's list, after Oron himself. But the Meretz chairman rejected the demand.



However sources within Meretz close to the efforts currently being undertaken to form a new left-wing party told Ynet they believed that "eventually, we can expect to the connection with Ami Ayalon working out."



Ayalon is also said to have held talks with former MK Ephraim Sneh, who heads the newly-formed 'Strong Israel' party. He has also held talks with Amir Goldenstein, advisor to Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni.