Avi Gabbay, who won Monday’s runoff election to head Israel’s opposition Labour, is a political newcomer with a business background who supporters hope will galvanise his beleaguered party. He had surprised observers when reaching second place in the first round of the Labour election after joining the party in December, just months after quitting Prime … Read more
The head of Israel’s main opposition Labour party lost a re-election bid Tuesday as the party which once dominated the country’s politics faces dwindling relevance. Isaac Herzog was knocked out of a leadership primary election that saw veteran politician Amir Peretz and former environment minister Avi Gabbay proceed to a head-to-head second round set for … Read more
Israel’s shelving of a deal to allow mixed-gender prayers at the Western Wall echoed far beyond religion Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused of abandoning reform efforts for political gain. Netanyahu’s cabinet voted Sunday to back out of the hard-won deal, provoking a flood of criticism and warnings it could damage Israel’s relationship with … Read more