Ex-Foreign Minister Quits Parliament
Former Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami quit the Israeli parliament, saying his Labor Party had betrayed its principles by joining a coalition headed by right-wing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Ben-Ami has been scathing about Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s leadership but also has condemned Sharon’s military reoccupation of Palestinian towns.
Ben-Ami, 59, said in a resignation letter that the Labor Party was “an atrophied tail at the service of the prime minister’s personal interests.â€
“I don’t think this is the time for a military response†to the Palestinian uprising, he said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
