"No-one is drawing a knife right now," said one of the Labor MKs who took part in Friday's faction meeting, "we're just waiting to see how the event will fall." What he actually meant is that they are all waiting to see how Amir Peretz will fall. Consensus now among almost all Labor leaders is that the party chairman has effectively painted himself into a corner. Those interested in challenging his leadership, about half the faction if not more, would do better staying their hand and watching how Peretz digs himself in even deeper.
Prospective opponents, Avishai Braverman and Ophir Pines could allow themselves at the meeting to congratulate Peretz on his decision to back a state commission of inquiry into the war, he had already cause himself enough damage over the issue, and another possible rival, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer rightly accused him of "zigzagging."