Israeli Labour Party should now enter government

28 March 2006

 
The Israeli election results - with exit polls giving Kadima a lower than expected 29 seats and Labour an excellent 19 seats - makes the Labour Party a natural coalition Government member commented the President of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. "This result should propel the Israeli Labour Party into Government" said Rasmussen. "For the sake of Israeli society, the new Government must put the concerns of the Labour Party about economic justice and social cohesion high on their agenda."

"I congratulate Amir Peretz for leading the Israeli Labour Party in an excellent campaign. I also welcome the good result  of our sister party Yahad-Meretz.”

Rasmussen added "The whole of Europe is looking for peace negotiations to restart as soon as possible after the formation of Governments in Palestine and Israel.  The new Israeli government has a responsibility to end the conflict and find a peace agreement .”