Former Labor Party leader Amir Peretz told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Sunday morning that if party leader Ehud Barak accepts a ministerial post in the forming government, he will do so without a party behind him.

Peretz, who has already announced a bid to retake the party leadership position, stated that under the guise of the defense minister briefing the opposition leader, Barak prior to the general election met with Netanyahu and a deal was already being discussed.

Now he said, the “briefings” continue as Barak is seeking to find a place in the new coalition, with Peretz stating Barak does not have the backing of the party leaders and any deal will leave him acting as a lone voice, lacking party support.

Barak and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet again on Sunday and Monday as the incoming prime minister seeks to bring Labor into the government to increase the stability of the new coalition.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)