MK Pines-Paz
Photo: Ido Erez
'Unprecedented move.' Barak
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Labor MKs: Barak reps unauthorized to strike coalition deal
In letter to Netanyahu, Labor members say Barak violated charter by appointing negotiating team without consulting party's institutions
Labor Knesset members who are against joining a Likud-led coalition told Benjamin Netanyahu that the negotiating team appointed by Chairman Ehud Barak was unauthorized to sign any agreement on the party's behalf.
Haredi Party
Attila Somfalvi
According to agreement, Eli Yishai will stay on as deputy prime minister and be appointed minister of interior, independence of haredi school system to be maintained
In a letter relayed to the prime minister-designate Monday morning, the MKs wrote "the coalition negotiations that are currently being conducted were launched without authorization or permission. This is the first time in Labor's history that the party's chairman appoints a negotiating team without holding a preliminary discussion or consulting with the party's institutions.
"This is a gross violation of Labor's charter," the letter read.
The MKs went as far as calling their chairman and his supporters the "Barak faction" and stated that "you (Netanyahu) should know that they are acting without the consent of most Labor faction members. We must advise that you should not rely on our support vis-à-vis any (coalition) agreements that may be signed by the negotiating teams."
Labor's central committee is expected to convene Tuesday to discuss the negotiations with Likud.
