Veteran Laborite Dr. Ephraim Sneh today, Sunday, is expected to make a formal announcement that he is breaking away from the Labor Party.

Sneh was more aligned with the former party leader, Amir Peretz, serving as deputy defense minister during his tenure. Growing tensions between Sneh and current party leader Defense Minister Ehud Barak have left Sneh out in the cold, unable to have any real influence on party issues or defense matters.

Sneh, 63, is a physician and a retired IDF brigadier-general. He served in an array of senior command positions in the IDF, including chief medical officer. He has been a member of Knesset since 1992, the 13th Knesset, and has been a cabinet member serving as minister of health and minister of transportation.

Sneh has denied rumors that he intends to join ranks with Arkadi Gaydamak, signaling he may be launching his own new party.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)