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September 26, 2003/Elul 29 5764, Vol. 56, No. 1
Labor Party gets its groove back
LESLIE SUSSER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - After almost a year of bumbling incompetence, the Israeli left seems to be getting its groove back.
Several signs point to a new sense of political vitality in the opposition Labor Party:
- There's a sharp new tone in the left's criticism of the government's peace and economic policies.
- Labor is discussing a political merger with the One Nation Party of Histadrut labor leader Amir Peretz, creating a stronger oppositionist front.
- Newly confident Labor leaders insist that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon eventually will have to get back to the Oslo peace process they initiated, or make way for someone who will.
- Last weekend, for the first time in years, Labor leaders participated in an anti-government Peace Now demonstration.
In addition, the fact that Sharon is under fire in his own Likud Party gives new hope and energy to his opponents on the left.
The developments come in sharp contrast to the year of confused lethargy that beset Labor after it lost successive elections in 2001 and 2003 by landslides, and to the Palestinian intifada, which made a mockery of Labor's peace ideology.
Indeed, as part of a Likud-led national unity government for 20 months starting in March 2001, Labor seemed to forfeit what was left of its separate political identity.
The Sharon government's difficulties with coming to grips with the key issues on Israel's agenda now are paving the way for Labor's revival. After more than two and half years in office, Sharon has not been able to turn the economy around or bring the peace and security he promised in his election campaigns. He also has yet to finish the long-awaited security fence.
Analysts speak of a dark mood in the country because of the government's inability to point to any significant light at the end of the tunnel. Without a peace agreement in sight and with emergency budget cuts threatening to impoverish more Israelis, the opposition is starting to make its presence felt.
To give itself a more compassionate image, Labor is angling for a merger with Peretz's worker-oriented One Nation. With the charismatic, socially-concerned Peretz back in the fold, Labor leaders hope to make a stronger case against the government's economic policy - which they depict as enriching the rich and impoverishing the poor - and appeal to a wider electorate.
Labor leaders contend that the jury is still out on Oslo, but they say the right-wing thesis of force against the Palestinians hasn't proved itself either. Labor's alternative - separation from the Palestinians with or without an agreement, and as soon as possible - seems to be striking a more receptive public chord.
Perhaps, more than anything else, this week's ceremonies for Labor Party Chairman Shimon Peres' 80th birthday underline the left's newfound energy. The Sept. 21 celebration of Peres' achievements was skillfully used to promote Labor's agenda and challenge what the party sees as Sharon's intransigence and delaying tactics.
At the gala evening in Tel Aviv's Mann Auditorium, former President Clinton drew rapturous applause when he declared that the Oslo peace process could still be brought to a successful conclusion.
The birthday party became a powerful celebration of what might have been had Oslo succeeded - and what many on the left think could still be, if only Labor is given another a shot in power.
Leslie Susser is the diplomatic correspondent for the Jerusalem Report.
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