Peres's challengers intensify campaign against him

With one month ahead of the November 9 Labor Party leadership race, challengers of the incumbent, Shimon Peres, began new efforts on Sunday to overthrow him. National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer slammed Peres in a rally in Or Yehuda, calling Peres's vow to remain in the government "hasty." "Staying in the government is a means and not the end," Ben-Eliezer said. "There is no point in remaining in a government that cannot advance the diplomatic process or guarantee bread to the people." Science Minister Matan Vilna'i called a press conference for Monday, where he is expected to unveil a new negative campaign bashing Peres. Officials close to Ben-Eliezer and Vilna'i have begun legal proceedings in an effort to prevent disqualified Labor members from rejoining the party.