Israeli Labour Party to choose new leader

Members of the Israeli Labour Party were choosing a new leader today, picking between two retired soldiers – one an ex-premier who fizzled fast and the other a newcomer to politics.

However, both Ehud Barak and Ami Ayalon have said they would bring stark differences to the leadership of Labour, the junior party in Israel’s governing coalition.

Barak, the former army chief who served as prime minister from 1999 until crushed by Ariel Sharon in a 2001 election, has presented himself as a veteran politician who can lead Labour back to power after more than six years of political weakness.

Criticised as haughty and overbearing when he was premier, Barak says he learned from his mistakes and would make a far better leader this time around.

Ayalon, who carved out a niche as a peace activist after retiring as head of the feared Shin Bet security agency, has painted himself as a political newcomer untainted by past mistakes and scandal who would give the party a political makeover.

The two men appear deadlocked heading into the second and final round of voting. Regardless of who wins, the election could shake up Israel’s political system.

Both candidates have called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign in the wake of a harsh report on his handling of last summer’s war in Lebanon. But with the winner of the vote likely to claim the defence ministry as his reward, neither candidate seems in a hurry to bring down the government.

In the first round of Labour Party primaries two weeks ago, Barak finished first with 36% to Ayalon’s 31%. Neither received the requisite 40% need to avoid a runoff.

Peretz, who won 22%, has thrown his support to Ayalon, but it was not clear whether that would give him the extra votes he needed. Two minor candidates from the first round are supporting Barak.

Recent polls show the race as a tossup. Polls close at 9pm local time (7pm Irish time), and final results are expected early tomorrow.