Labor Party (Israel) leadership election, 2007

Five candidates ran in the 2007 Israeli Labor Party leadership elections:

*Ehud Barak attempted again to return to politics, this time after the move of Shim'on Peres to Kadima and with Amir Peretz as the Labor Party leader.
*Amikhai ("Ami") Ayalon, who announced that he's going to politics in order to be prime minister, and not just another Knesset member, decided that he have "learned" enough the system and that he's ready to lead.
*Amir Perets came to these elections as the current party chairman, and with very low chance of winning after his image had been severely damaged during his term of office in the position of the Labor Party leader and his term of holding the position of the Defense Minister of Israel.
*Ofir Pines-Paz ran in these elections with background of years of high-level activity in the party, which include holding the position of the chairman of the coalition and the position of the chairman of the Yisra'el Akhat parliamentary group during the 15th Knesset, holding the position of the party's secretary-general from 2001 until 2003 and winning the first place in the vote that had been held in 2005 in the party's "merkaz" for determining the identity of the party's ministers in the coalition with the Likud. In the 2006 Elections for the 17th Knesset he was third in the Labor-Meymad list, after the party leader Amir Perets and Yitskhak Hertsog. He came to these elections after he opposed Amir Perets' decision that the Labor Party will stay in the government and in the coalition after the joining of Yisra'el Beytenu to the coalition and the appointment of Avigdor Liberman to a minister in October 2006. Following the joining of Yisra'el Beytenu to the coalition and the appointment of Avigdor Liberman to a minister Ofir Pines-Paz resigned from the government. He submitted a letter of resignation from the government in October 30, 2006, and his resignation took effect in November 1, 2006.
*Dani Yatom ran in these elections without popularity, without considerable status and without seniority. Some people estimate that Dani Yatom ran in these elections in order to obtain upgrading in his status in the party.

Propaganda and public and promotional activity

Ehud Barak presented himself to the public as the "new Barak". Almost all of his election speeches had been held in close assemblies of enrolled party members ("mitpakdim"). He assembled only one press conference in all of the election campaign. Ehud Barak's slogan in these elections was "Barak will return us the security". In one of Ehud Barak's election propaganda products it was written, in first person, as if Ehud Barak is the writer, that he asks the support of the people to which he address for the headship of the party and for the prime ministership ("Dear khaverim ["comrades/fellows/members"] , I'm addressing you and asking your support in me for the headship of the party and for the prime ministership."). Ehud Barak wrote there also that "A real chance had been created in this period of time for the Labor Party to come back and lead [the original words can also be translated as "to return to lead" or "to lead again"] the country to a safer path. I believe in the basic values of our movement, very believe in you the members of the party – and convinced that together we will win.". Ehud Barak wrote there also that "In order to win in the general elections our party must place in its top a man who have proven experience in national leadership – a man who already was prime minister and held senior government positions." Ehud Barak wrote there also that he will "bring with him the experience

Results

First round (