According to a report in the Tuesday edition of Yisrael Hayom, Machane Tzioni party leader Avi Gabbai seems to believe that former Prime Minister/Defense Minister Ehud Barak can still bring the votes.

According to the report, Barak and Gabbai have been meeting and speaking during recent weeks and Gabbai wants the 75-year-old Barak to come out of retirement and join the former Labor party. The report states that Gabbai is willing to secure a “realistic” spot on the party ticket for Barak, who he would tap to serve as defense minister should the party win the election and be selected to form a government.

It appears Gabbai believes former IDF generals will attract voters as he is also seeking to bring a number of them onboard. Names being mentioned include Amiram Levine, Yomtov Samiyah, and MK Amar Bar-Lev, with the latter planning to challenge Gabbai for the party leadership.

Gabbai is also setting his sights on two former IDF Chief of Staffs, Benny Ganz and Gabbai Ashkenazi, despite the tensions that exist between Barak and Ashkenazi.

When asked to comment on the report, officials in Gabbai’s office explain that while Ehud Barak is indeed a worthy individual, there is no ongoing contact taking place as reported.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)