TEL AVIV, January 17, 2011 (WAFA) - An official in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Monday that Defense Minister Ehud Barak's decision to quit the Labor Party would bring stability to the coalition and allow the government to operate more smoothly.

 This came after Barak’s announcement Monday of stepping down from his position as Labor Party chairman, following months of turmoil within the weakened faction. Four Labor members will join Barak in a new faction called Atzmaut (independence) which promises to be “centrist, Zionist and democratic,” according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

 The four Labor joiners are Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon and members of Knesset Einat Wilf and Ori Noked.

Responses from Knesset factions began filtering in soon after Barak informed lawmakers of his decision in a letter to Knesset.

Knesset member Aryeh Eldad, of the right-wing National Union – National Religious Party, said that Barak's decision to quit the party provided only half a solution. 'The fragmentation of the Labor Party is only half the battle; the second half will take place when Barak ends his political career and puts us out of our misery,' he said.

 
Y.Y.