2002 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2002 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

| previous_year = 2001

| popular_vote2 = 25,445

| popular_vote1 = 35,945

| image3 = File:Haim Ramon (3x4a).jpg

| 2data3 = 7.24%

| candidate3 = Haim Ramon

| turnout = 59.5%

| after_election = Amram Mitzna

| flag_image = Logo haAwoda.svg

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2001 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

| next_election = 2003 Israeli Labor Party interim leadership election

| candidate1 = Amram Mitzna

| next_year = 2003 (interim)

| election_date = 20 November 2002

| 2blank = Percentage

| country = Israel

| image1 = 150x150px

| 2data1 = 53.91%

| image2 = File:סיור שר הביטחון בנימין בן אליעזר בחיל האוויר (cropped) (1).jpg

| candidate2 = Binyamin Ben-Eliezer

| 2data2 = 38.16%

| title = Leader

| before_election = Binyamin Ben-Eliezer

| popular_vote3 = 4,830

| party1 = Israeli Labor Party

| party3 = Israeli Labor Party

| party2 = Israeli Labor Party

}}A leadership election was held by the Israeli Labor Party on 19 November 2002. Mayor of Haifa Amram Mitzna defeated incumbent Leader Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Member of the Knesset Haim Ramon.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2002-11-20 |title=מצנע נבחר ליו"ר העבודה עם 53.9% מהקולות |trans-title=Mitzna elected leader of Labor with 53.9% of the vote |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2259314,00.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=ynet |language=he}}{{Cite news |last=Verter |first=Yossi |date=2002-11-20 |title=Mitzna Sweeps to Labor Party Victory; Ben-Eliezer: We'll Not Become Meretz II' |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2002-11-20/ty-article/mitzna-sweeps-to-labor-party-victory-ben-eliezer-well-not-become-meretz-ii/0000017f-e2fe-d7b2-a77f-e3ff3bfd0000?_amp=true |access-date=2022-06-26}}

Background

In 2001, special elections for the position of prime minister took place after the resignation of Ehud Barak. Barak, then the leader of the Labor party, lost to Ariel Sharon.{{Cite web |title=הבחירות בישראל 2001 |trans-title=2001 Israeli election |url=https://www.idi.org.il/books/5947 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Israel Democracy Institute}} The Labor Party joined Sharon's new party, with Barak subsequently retiring from political life.{{Cite news |last=Karni |first=Yuval |date=2012-11-26 |title=אהוד ברק הודיע: פורש מהחיים הפוליטיים |language=he |trans-title=Ehud Barak announced his retirement from political life |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4311756,00.html |access-date=2022-05-04}} Following his resignation, Barak was replaced as party leader by Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who defeated Speaker of the Knesset Avraham Burg in a leadership election in December 2001.{{Cite web |last=Bar Gefen |first=Linoi |date=2001-12-27 |title=בן אליעזר ניצח; הרב עובדיה התקשר לברך |trans-title=Ben-Eliezer Won; Rabbi Ovadia called to congratulate |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1469288,00.html |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=ynet |language=he}} Due to tensions regarding the leadership election, it was decided that a second leadership election would be held in 2002.{{Cite news |last=Bennet |first=James |date=2001-12-27 |title=Vote in Israel In Labor Party Seems to Keep Coalition Safe |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/27/world/vote-in-israel-in-labor-party-seems-to-keep-coalition-safe.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |issn=0362-4331}} In May 2002, Eitan Cabel stated that Member of the Knesset Haim Ramon would run for the party's leadership, with Cabel serving as Ramon's campaign manager.{{Cite news |last=Rotter |first=Yossi |date=2022-05-02 |title=ח"כ כבל: רמון יתמודד על ראשות העבודה |language=he |trans-title=MK Cabel: Ramon will run for Leadership of Labor |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2002-05-02/ty-article/0000017f-e1bf-d804-ad7f-f1ffbcbd0000 |access-date=2022-08-01}} In July, Ben-Eliezer and Ramon agreed to hold the election on 19 November.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-07-05 |title=הבחירות לראשות העבודה יתקיימו ב-19 לנובמבר |trans-title=Labor leadership election will take place on 19 November |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1981814,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}}

On 1 August, Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna stated that he was considering running for the leadership of the Labor Party.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2022-08-01 |title=עמרם מצנע שוקל להתמודד על ראשות העבודה |trans-title=Amram Mitzna is considering running for leadership of Labor |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2033755,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}} Several politicians, including Minister of Science, Culture and Sport Matan Vilnai,{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-08-11 |title=וילנאי הודיע על תמיכתו במצנע לראשות העבודה |trans-title=Vilnai announces support for Mitzna as Labor Leader |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2051995,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}} Mayor of Tel Aviv Ron Huldai,{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2002-08-11 |title=חולדאי: אני תומך במצנע |trans-title=Huldai: I support Mitzna |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2053134,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}} and Member of the Knesset Yossi Katz,{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-08-12 |title=רמון דחה הצעת בן אליעזר לשתף פעולה נגד מצנע |trans-title=Ramon Rejected Ben-Eliezer's offer to cooperate against Mitzna |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2055913,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}} endorsed the idea. Mitzna formally announced his candidacy on 13 August.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-08-13 |title=מצנע: אפעל להסדר קבע עם הפלסטינים |trans-title=Mitzna: I will work towards permanent settlement with Palestinians |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2057075,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=ynet |language=he}}

On 5 November 2002, following Labor's withdrawal from the government, the Knesset was dissolved,{{Cite web |date=2002-11-05 |title=שרון: "גחמה פוליטית של העבודה פירקה הממשלה". הנאום המלא |trans-title=Sharon: "A Political whim of Labor dissolved the government". The full speech |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2226996,00.html |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=ynet |language=he}} and new elections were called for January 2003.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-11-11 |title=סופית: הבחירות יתקיימו ב-28 בינואר |trans-title=Officially: Elections will take place on 28 January |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2239594,00.html |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=ynet |language=he}} On 12 November, Mitzna, Ben-Eliezer and Ramon participated in a televised debate on Channel 2.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2002-11-13 |title=העימות: פואד ורמון הזיעו, מצנע שתה מים |trans-title=The Debate: Fuad and Ramon sweated, Mitzna drank water |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2243793,00.html |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=ynet |language=he}}

Campaign

Mitzna campaigned on a solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He stated that Israel should negotiate a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, which would include the evacuation of Israeli outposts.

Ramon criticized Mitzna for advocating negotiations with Palestinian authorities, arguing that Israel should unilaterally withdraw from both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He also criticized Ben-Eliezer's plan to construct a Separation barrier in the West Bank, believing that Israel should withdraw before a barrier is built.{{Cite web |last=Bahur |first=Diana |date=2002-09-02 |title=רמון: "מצנע דחק עצמו לשמאל הקיצוני" |trans-title=Ramon: Mitzna has pushed himself towards the Radical Left |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2097154,00.html |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=ynet |language=he}} Ramon also criticized Ben-Eliezer for participating in Sharon's Government.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |date=2002-09-18 |title=חיים רמון: פואד מחפש לעצמו סידור עבודה |trans-title=Haim Ramon: Fuad is looking for a job |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2125613,00.html |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=ynet |language=he}}

Candidates

Amram Mitzna - Mayor of Haifa.{{Cite web |last=Lanski |first=Na'ama |date=2012-03-15 |title="השריפות בכרמל הן עניין ידוע ולא עשו דבר" |trans-title="Fires in the Caramel are a known issue and nothing has been done" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/34283 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=Israel Hayom}}
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer - Incumbent leader of the Labor Party and Minister of Defense (until 2 November 2002).{{Cite web |title=Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/mk/Apps/mk/mk-government-activity/20 |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=Knesset |language=he}}
Haim Ramon - Member of the Knesset and former Minister of Health.{{Cite news |last=Somfalvi |first=Attila |date=2003-10-30 |title=האם חיים רמון פורש מהחיים הפוליטיים? |language=he |trans-title=Is Haim Ramon retiring from political life? |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2810163,00.html |access-date=2022-08-25}}

Results

{{Election box begin no change|title=2002 Israeli Labor Party leadership election{{Cite web |title=העבודה |trans-title=Labor |url=https://havoda.org.il/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021127111615/https://havoda.org.il/ |archive-date=2002-11-27 |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Labor}}{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2002-11-20 |title=מצנע נבחר ליו"ר העבודה עם 53.9% מהקולות |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2259314,00.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=ynet |language=he}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Israeli Labor Party|candidate=Amram Mitzna|votes=35,945|percentage=53.91%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Israeli Labor Party|candidate=Binyamin Ben-Eliezer|votes=25,445|percentage=38.16%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Israeli Labor Party|candidate=Haim Ramon|votes=4,830|percentage=7.24%}}

Aftermath

Both Ben-Eliezer and Ramon coneded defeat after initial results showed a Mitzna victory.{{Cite web |last=Shmueli |first=Smadar |last2=Somfalvi |first2=Attila |date=2002-11-20 |title=מצנע נבחר ליו"ר העבודה עם 53.9% מהקולות |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2259314,00.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=ynet |language=he}} Ben-Eliezer was assigned the second spot on the party's list for the 2003 election,{{Cite web |date=2002-12-10 |title=הבחירות בעבודה - התוצאות הסופיות |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/40142 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=ערוץ 7 |language=he}} where the party won 19 seats, then an all-time low.{{Cite web |title=בחירות 2003 |trans-title=2003 elections |url=https://www.idi.org.il/policy/parties-and-elections/elections/2003/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=Israel Democracy Institute}} After the election, Mitzna announced his resignation from the party leadership in May 2005,{{Cite news |last=Barzilay |first=Arnon |last2=Mualem |first2=Mazal |date=2003-05-05 |title=מצנע התפטר מראשות העבודה: "במצבה הנוכחי לא ניתן לנהל אותה" |language=he |trans-title=Mitzna Resigns from Labor leadership: "In its current situation, it cannot be managed" |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2003-05-05/ty-article/0000017f-db17-df62-a9ff-dfd77ce10001 |access-date=2022-08-25}} and was replaced by Shimon Peres, who became the interim leader until the next leadership election took place.{{Cite web |title=פרס נבחר ליו"ר הזמני: "נחזיר את המפלגה לגדולתה" |trans-title=Peres elected temporary chairman: "We will return the party to its former greatness" |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2662173,00.html |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=ynet |language=he}}

References

Labor Party leadership election

Category:Israeli Labor Party leadership elections

Israeli Labor Party leadership election