MK Merav Michaeli on Sunday won the Labor leadership primaries, taking over the storied center-left party as it faces possible extinction in the March 23 general elections, the Times of Israel reports.
Michaeli, the only current Labor lawmaker in the race, finished first with 77 percent of the 9,651 votes cast, out of over 37,000 registered party members.
The runner up was Avi Shaked, an ally of outgoing Labor chief Amir Peretz, who got 19.08% of votes. Gil Beilin, the son of former minister Yossi Beilin, picked up 2.37% of ballots, while five other candidates finished below 1%.
“Friends, now is the time to come home,” Michaeli said in her victory speech. “You, who they lied to and deceived and took your vote, come home. Come to a home of truth.”
Michaeli’s remarks appeared aimed at Peretz, who repeatedly pledged not to join a Benjamin Netanyahu-led government but did so following elections last March.
“At the last moment, we saved this movement from being erased. I understand the enormity of the hour. The Labor party is still stuck in the mud and I have the mission of rescuing and rebuilding it,” Michaeli said.
Michaeli also said she would allow anyone to present their candidacy for the party’s electoral slate, but made no mention of a possible joint run with other left-leaning factions, asserting Labor could eventually return as a ruling party.
Michaeli has said she is open to joining with another party before the election in order to increase Labor’s chances of passing the electoral threshold, but only if they are an “ideological ally.” The Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday morning that if she wins, she is likely to sign an agreement to run with The Israelis.
