WORLD / Middle East
Israel' Peretz resigns from government
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-16 05:05
Olmert appoints new defense ministerIsraeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz
on Friday resigned from his position, after the government approved the
appointment of newly-elected Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak as his
replacement, local media said.
Israeli defense minister and Labor Party leader Amir Peretz gestures as
he talks to his supporters during a party gathering at the Labor party
headquarters in Tel Aviv, June 3, 2007.[AP/File Photo]
There had been speculation that he would stay on in the government.
However, Peretz has informed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Friday that he
does not intend to stay in the government as a minister without
portfolio, as which Olmert is expected to appoint him, a Channel 10 TV
report said.
Peretz said in the wake of the Winograd Committee's partial report on the
Second Lebanon War that he would resign as defense minister following the
Labor Party primaries.
Olmert decided to appoint Barak as defense minister in his meeting with
Barak Friday morning. Olmert has called some of his cabinet ministers for
their agreement over this appointment.
Barak responded to Olmert's request, and is expected to enter his new
role upon being sworn into Knesset (Parliament) on Monday.
The former prime minister Barak defeated rival Knesset member Ami Ayalon
to capture the chairmanship of the Labor Party in a hard-fought primary.
Olmert will meet Barak again at the end of next week, after his return
from the United States. Upon returning, the prime minister also plans to
appoint a finance minister and a Negev and Galilee development minister,
to replace president-elect Shimon Peres. Both these portfolios are
expected to remain in Kadima's hands.
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