Barak leads party leadership race

Former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who announced his return to politics this week, enjoys a wide lead over the Labour Party’s current leader and would win the party’s leadership race if elections were held today, according to a poll published in an Israeli newspaper today.

The Maariv poll said Barak has the support of 30% of Labour members, compared with 12% for the current leader, Defence Minister Amir Peretz.