Labor Party rivals Peretz and Herzog hold ‘sulha'

In sign of forgiveness, World Federation of Moroccan Jewry invites Herzog to Mimouna.

311_ amir peretz (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post))
311_ amir peretz
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post))
MK Amir Peretz accepted clarifications from his fellow Labor leadership candidate, MK Isaac Herzog, on Thursday, a day after Haaretz published a racist quote attributed to Herzog in a WikiLeaks document that purportedly contained the protocol of a conversation between Herzog and an American diplomat.
The document quoted Peretz telling American diplomat Robert Danin during the 2006 election campaign that Peretz, who was Labor’s candidate for prime minister, was perceived as “aggressive, inexperienced, and Moroccan,” but that Labor’s list for the Knesset had Ashkenazim that balanced out the Sephardim.
In an interview with Army Radio on Thursday, Danin denied that Herzog used such language and backed up Herzog’s vigorous denials that he would say such things.
Later Thursday, Herzog and Peretz held a sulha (reconciliation) meeting in the latter’s Tel Aviv office.
“The meeting was held in a good atmosphere and I am glad that this episode is past us,” Herzog said. “The good of the party obligates us to know how to work together even after the election is over.”
Peretz said that from his point of view, the matter was closed.
He pledged to work with full force to unify the party and keep the race focused on serious issues.
In another sign that Herzog had been forgiven, the World Federation of Moroccan Jewry invited him to be an honorary guest at its Mimouna celebration the day after Pessah.