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Israeli Labor mulls split as polls predict crushing loss

Despite the dismal polls, no Knesset member in the Labor Party is willing to confront unpopular leader Avi Gabbay.
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In a toast at a Zionist Camp party ahead of the Jewish new year, “Avi Gabbay stood on stage and announced that he will be the next prime minister of Israel, when just a minute earlier, we heard that a poll gave the Zionist Camp 11 seats." A Labor Knesset member told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, "It was ridiculous. It was so detached from reality.” The Sept. 5 event in Tel Aviv was supposed to be a festive occasion, but he described the mood as “gloomy.”

Gabbay, the chairman of the Zionist Camp, delivered a long speech, full of praise for a party on the rise. He spoke of a grass-roots mobilization on the party’s behalf and how before they knew it, he would be prime minister.

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