New Israeli Labour leader open to working with Netanyahu

Yitzhak (Isaac) Herzog has been elected the new leader of Israel's Labour party, raising speculation the opposition party will now be more open to joining the coalition led by Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Mr Herzog (53) surprised pundits by easily defeating incumbent Labour leader Shelly Yachimovich, winning 58.5 per cent of the vote in Thursday's party primaries.

Mr Herzog, a veteran Labour politician and former minister, is the son of Israel’s former president Haim Herzog and grandson of Isaac Herzog, who served as Ireland’s first chief rabbi between 1921 and 1936.

Labour dominated Israeli politics in the first three decades after independence in 1948, but has since declined, and in the January elections won a disappointing 15 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

Mr Herzog criticised Ms Yachimovich for focusing on social issues and failing to provide a viable alternative to Mr Netanyahu on diplomatic and security issues. He supported joining the Netanyahu government but Ms Yachimovich instead took Labour into opposition, despite being offered the powerful finance portfolio during coalition negotiations.

Peace a priority
Speaking at a victory rally in Tel Aviv, Mr Herzog promised to rebuild Labour and challenge for the leadership of the country.

He said peace with the Palestinians should be Israel’s top priority.

“I have big doubts whether the prime minister knows this and is acting toward this,” he said.

Justice minister Tzipi Livni, head of the centrist Hatnua party, and Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians, congratulated Mr Herzog and called on him to join her in government.

Mr Herzog indicated that speculation about joining the coalition was premature, but he kept the option open.

“I have said before that if Mr Netanyahu makes a clear, daring step toward peace, I would be there. I stand by what I said.”