MK Eitan Cabel, who for the past four years served as the secretary of the Labor Party, has announced his resignation on Tuesday in a surprise move.

Party leader Ehud Barak dismissed Cabel over his refusal to back down from the party’s rebel faction, which remains adamant in its opposition to Barak’s leadership decisions. The party leaders met and backed Barak’s decision, but a second meeting is scheduled, possibly to reconsider the move.

In an unexpected move, Cabel preempted and announced his resignation, a move that further highlights the divided camp within the party.

Cabel served as party secretary under three leaders, Shimon Peres, Amir Peretz and Ehud Barak.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)