Report: Peretz urged to drop defense portfolio

Labor Party members have called for Chairman Amir Peretz to give up his position as defense minister in favor of the social affairs portfolio, Army Radio reported Tuesday morning. Political sources said that two of Peretz's aides had recommended that he try for the social affairs post before the upcoming Labor leadership elections in order to strengthen his position and gain ground against his opponents in the primaries. Sources close to Peretz, however, said the Labor chairman had no intention of leaving the Defense Ministry.