Israel’s main opposition Labour Party has voted in former businessman Avi Gabbay as its new leader as it sought to regain waning influence and win back supporters.
Mr Gabbay, who joined the party only in December, took 52 per cent of the votes in the run-off against longtime politician and former party leader Amir Peretz.
“To anyone who doubted the vitality of Israeli democracy, to anyone who eulogised the Labour Party,” he said in his victory speech to hundreds of jubilant supporters in Tel Aviv, “this night is their answer.”
“This night we celebrate a victory, and after this night, there will be a day of hope for Israel,” he said.
“Tomorrow, the journey towards the election to change the Israeli government begins.”
Nearly 59 per cent of Labour’s 52,505 members voted in the contest for leadership of the veteran party, which was seeking a new face to boost its standings in the polls.
Read the full article by AFP at The Australian.