NYTIMES:Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says he is resigning as head of the Labour party to form his own faction.
Mr Barak is heading a breakaway group - Independence - which includes four other Labour MPs, reports say.
Correspondents say the move strengthens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, as it allows Mr Barak's party to remain in government.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly announced Monday that he was leaving the Labor Party — dividing the movement that dominated Israeli politics for decades and setting off a chain reaction that cast new doubts over already troubled peace efforts with the Palestinians.JPOST:The split in the iconic party that led Israel to independence did not appear to threaten the majority of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. Barak, a former prime minister and military chief, will stay in the ruling coalition with four followers who joined him.
But Labor's eight remaining members, who had been pushing him to leave the government because of the impasse in peace talks, were expected to withdraw. With a smaller but more unified majority and rid of these dissenting voices, the government could find it easier to dig in on hard-line positions.
Labor has been the sole moderate party in Netanyahu's coalition, which is otherwise dominated by religious and nationalist parties that oppose major concessions to the Palestinians.
The Knesset House Committee on Monday approved a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to split from the Labor party and form a new faction called 'Independence' (Atzmaut). The split was approved with a majority of 11 MKs voting in favor.
Shortly after the announcement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made a request to begin coalition negotiations the newly-formed faction. Representatives from Netanyahu's office are expected to meet with Labor breakaway representatives MK Einat Wilf and Agricultural Minister Shalom Simhon.
JPOST:
Herzog, Braverman, Ben-Eliezer say they'll rebuild Labor on its basic ideals; Pines-Paz slams defense minister for comparing himself to Ben-Gurion; Ben-Eliezer: "Party will return to its former glory."
All three of the remaining Labor ministers quit the government Monday, following Defense Minister Ehud Barak's move to take four MKs with him and start a new faction.
Speaking at separate press conferences Monday afternoon, the three ministers explained their decisions to quit the government, their thoughts on the future of the Labor party and limited insight into the party splitting up.>
Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog said that he is glad Barak left the party as it presents a chance to save the Labor party. He said that he had notified Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he was quitting the government, and added that he hoped Labor Ministers Avishay Braverman and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer would join him shortly. Herzog said he had spoken with party officials about preserving party unity and to decide on a date for new primary elections.
Herzog said that today, "Labor returns to being the political home of even those who felt betrayed by it."
Speaking in English, he concluded: "We will serve the people from the opposition. The Netanyahu government has come to a standstill in the peace process and in dealing with [Foreign Minister Avigdor] Lieberman's racist undertones. I will work with my colleagues to save the party."
All three of the remaining Labor ministers quit the government Monday, following Defense Minister Ehud Barak's move to take four MKs with him and start a new faction.JPOST:
Speaking at separate press conferences Monday afternoon, the three ministers explained their decisions to quit the government, their thoughts on the future of the Labor party and limited insight into the party splitting up.
Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog said that he is glad Barak left the party as it presents a chance to save the Labor party. He said that he had notified Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he was quitting the government, and added that he hoped Labor Ministers Avishay Braverman and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer would join him shortly. Herzog said he had spoken with party officials about preserving party unity and to decide on a date for new primary elections.
Herzog said that today, "Labor returns to being the political home of even those who felt betrayed by it."
Speaking in English, he concluded: "We will serve the people from the opposition. The Netanyahu government has come to a standstill in the peace process and in dealing with [Foreign Minister Avigdor] Lieberman's racist undertones. I will work with my colleagues to save the party."
Netanyahu: This gov't will be around for years to come
BBC analysis:
Shortly after the announcement, Netanyahu made a request to begin coalition negotiations the newly-formed faction. Representatives from the prime minister's office were expected to meet with "Independence" representatives MK Einat Wilf and Agricultural Minister Shalom Simhon.Against the backdrop of three ministers resigning from his government and his defense minister creating a new political faction, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke to reporters at the Knesset on Monday.
Barak said that the faction's agenda will be "first of all the state, then the party, then the media, and only then ourselves." He vowed that he and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, MK Shalom Simhon, Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Orit Noked, and MK Einat Wilf would "do what's best and what's right for Israel."
"We are creating a new faction and we will call on everyone who believes in our path to join."
His backing for the government's handling of the recently failed Mid-East peace talks was the main cause of complaint from party members.
With negotiations stalled for over three months, some Labour members urged him to pull out of the coalition. Last week, one of them, Daniel Ben-Simon, quit the party in protest at the decision to stay on.
The resignation does not immediately threaten Mr Netanyahu's governing coalition - Mr Barak and his four followers are expected to remain part of it and to retain ministerial posts.
However, the move may shift the government's policies further to the right and Mr Netanyahu's majority is reduced.
THE TIMING OF THIS - SO CLOSE TO HARIRI'S COLLAPSE AND AN IMPENDING WAR WITH HIZBALLAH - IS NO COINCIDENCE.'
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BIBI AND EHUD - WHO WILL IN EFECT REMAIN MINISTER OF DEFENSE - ARE NOW ON WAR FOOTING...
STAY TUNED...
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