Labor Party recalculates strategy ahead of Israeli elections

Paradoxically, the threat of the new Blue and White party in Israel has pushed the Labor Party into featuring sharper messages on diplomatic affairs and a clearer agenda.
Avi Gabbai, the new leader of Israel's centre-left Labour party, delivers his victory speech after winning the Labour party primary runoff, at an event in Tel Aviv, Israel July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1ABB63EDA0
Labor Party leader Avi Gabbay is reformulating his party's message in reaction to polls that show it in single digits for Israel's Knesset elections in April. Here, Gabbay delivers his victory speech in Tel Aviv after winning a runoff election for the Labor Party leadership, July 10, 2017. - REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Mazal Mualem
Mazal Mualem
@mazalm3
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Paradoxically, it was the new Blue and White party of Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid that pushed the Labor Party back to its traditional positions on diplomatic affairs.

It happened almost immediately after the big political explosion caused by the founding of the new party Feb. 21. This merger of center-left parties was the worst possible news that Labor Party Chairman Avi Gabbay could have asked for. And it happened just one day after the announcement that Maj. Gen. Tal Russo had joined Gabbay's party and taken the No. 2 slot on its list.

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